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

November 4, 2013

Last Saturday night was a fun night. It was a charity benefit concert for The Blue Lotus Farm and Retreat Center. Al Kooper and Fred Bliffert were the stars.

A lot of people turned out to tell some great stories and play some great music.

Fred and his family oversee The Blue Lotus Farm and Retreat Center. What an awesome thing for the family to do!

The photos attached give you an idea of the fun we all had. Bob Reitman was the master of ceremonies and started the show.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

October 21, 2013

My blog today has some special meaning to it. On Saturday, October 26 at the Miramar Theater here in Milwaukee, there is going to be a benefit for the Blue Lotus Farm and Retreat Center.

Fred Bliffert who is a longtime friend of mine, is putting together this charity event along with Jim Liban and the legendary Al Kooper.

Please come join us at the Miramar Theater at 8:30 to 11:30 for a great time with some awesome musicians.

Attached are photographs of Al Kooper when he played at Humpin Hanna's on December 29, 1972.

Fred Bliffert and Jim Liban are legends and Al Kooper has some great history with The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd and of course Blood Sweat and Tears.

One of my favorite things about Al Kooper is that he plays french horn, organ and piano on "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones on the "Let It Bleed" album!

Please come join us and have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

October 7, 2013

Digging through my files for a blog this week, I came across photos of "The Killer", Jerry Lee Lewis, at Summerfest on July, 19, 1972!

He got the nickname "The Killer", because of his wild and crazy piano playing shows! One of my photos here shows Jerry Lee climbing his piano! He did have a wild show that night I saw him at Summerfest.

These photos are old but well worth looking at.  Doing my blog makes me digitize these old pictures and restore them.

Jerry Lee Lewis, is known for a lot of crazy things like marrying 8 times! One of those marriages was when he was 22, and it was to a minor who was 13 and his first cousin once removed!!

His start was in Louisiana, playing piano with Mickey Gilley and TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggart!

Some of his shows included his sister, Linda Gail Lewis, who can be seen here in the photographs from Summerfest.

Enjoy these pictures of "The Killer", and have a great week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Jerry Lee Lewis at Summerfest July 18, 1972.

Rory Gallager and his band at the Milwaukee Arena October 20, 1971.

September 30, 2013

As I was doing blog #78 a few weeks ago on Rory Gallager, I thought I had more photos of him in my files. Sure enough, I found some pictures that were taken on October 20, 1971 when Rory played at the Milwaukee Arena with Fleetwood Mac and Frank Zappa and his Mothers of Invention.

Here are photographs of Rory's slightly used guitar. The varnish is worn off! Looks like Stevie Ray Vaughn's guitar, doesn't it?

I believe that Rory opened the show on this particular night followed by Frank Zappa and then Fleetwood Mac. If anyone remembers the order being different please let me know, just so I know!

Enjoy a look back at an amazing musician and his band. Have a good week.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Linda Ronstadt at the Dane County Coliseum in 1980

September 23, 2013

The news on television and in the newspapers lately has been depressing, but the news of Linda Ronstadt really hurt. Linda was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and her voice among other things is being affected.

For me, Linda was the first female rock star. She has a very strong and wonderful voice.

I wish her the best of luck in the treatment of her disease and hope things go well for her.

My favorite photo that I have ever taken is the first photo here!! It was 1972, I was 18 years old, and I was in a dressing room with Linda and Ramblin' Jack Elliott! Linda kicked some beer cans off of a bench to put her leg up on it, played guitar, and sang for Ramblin' Jack a song that I don't remember! What I do remember was her incredible voice.

The second photo here is of Linda and Kris Kristofferson. I always wanted to know what he was saying to her.

Enjoy these photos from 1972 and 1980. Take care Linda.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Rory Gallager at the East Village in Milwaukee on November 8, 1972.