B B King at Summerfest in 1972 dressed sharp for the blues!

October 27, 2014

The past few weeks I have shown you photos from the first major rock show that I photographed.

No backstage pass was given to me.  In my early years of photography, I just photographed from my seat! That is just how is was done back them. 

This show featured Savoy Brown, with an opening act of Long John Baldry.

Long John Baldry, was 6' 7", giving him the name Long John Baldry.

He was the first guy to play the blues in clubs in England in the early 1960's.

The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and many others have worked with Long John Baldry and can thank him for paving the path of British Blues.

In later life he became a voice actor in television and some movies.

Enjoy some very early photos of mine and have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Long John Baldry on September 29, 1971 in Milwaukee.

Al Kooper at the 2013 Blue Lotus Farm and Retreat Center benefit.

Johnny Almond with his saxophone.

Elvin Bishop at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1979.

July 29, 2013

Before I begin, let me thank Andreas Wiegel in Vienna, Austria, for letting me know that Roger Sutton was the bass player and Tommy Eyre played keyboards for the Mark Almond band. In my blog #68 on the Mark Almond Band, I was not sure from my research and asked for some information on that. Very cool to see that I reach out to Vienna, Austria and Andreas!!

This week's blog looks back at Elvin Bishop and his band that came to Summerfest here in Milwaukee in 1979. This was an awesome show and had a guy named Mickey Thomas playing Saxophone and doing great vocals. Mickey Thomas then went on to Jefferson Starship and nearly became a household name. He has such a great voice. I forgot that he played saxophone until I looked back at these photographs!

Elvin Bishop is coming back to Milwaukee for the Harley Davidson Anniversary concerts at the Summerfest grounds on August 29th! I am looking forward to the show because I haven't seen him since 1979 when he was sleeping in the dressing room! The band that night was worn out because they had just come from Hawaii I believe!

Have a great week and enjoy the photographs. The first photograph is a copy of a press kit Elvin had back then.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

 

July 22, 2013

A long time ago in 1971 when I was a junior in high school, my family moved across town. It was far enough away that I needed to attend a different high school. I lost all my friends!

I was mad, sad and buried my head into my love of photography and music! As I look back now, that move was probably one of the best things that happened to me in my youth!

One of my classmates was Steve Cohen. He had formed a band with some of our other classmates. The Stone Cohen Blues Band was it's name and they played some good blues.

The Stone Cohen Blues Band became Leroy Airmaster a little bit later and Steve was the leader playing harmonicas and doing vocals. Bill Stone plays guitar with Dave Kasik on the bass. Tom Wilson played drums for a while but Vodie Rhinehart is getting the job done now and fits perfectly!

The guys were influenced heavily by local bands The Ox and Short Stuff, and so was I!

Leroy Airmaster broke up for a while and since 2009 have been back together again. They are better and a little older now but it's all good.

The photographs here are from 1971 and from Summerfest this year where Leroy Airmaster opened for Jon Paris who opened for Buddy Guy on the Harley Davidson Roadhouse stage.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

July 8, 2013

On February 11, 1972, the Mark Almond Band played at the Oriental Theater in Milwaukee. The opening act that night was the local Milwaukee group Woodbine. I will be doing a blog on them on soon!

I first became aware of Jon Mark and Johnny Almond when they were playing with John Mayall on his album Turning Point.

The band had a nice smooth sound and one of my favorite songs of all time is The City. The vocals by Jon Mark on that song were great!

I am not sure of the names of the bass player and keyboard player but they too were very good. If anyone knows their names I would appreciate an email to update my records.

The jacket that Johnny Almond is wearing in these photos is interesting with little spacemen on it!

Enjoy the old photos and have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

The J. Geils Band in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at Summerfest in 1972.