A Very Special Solo Evening With The Legendary Al Kooper- May 17th
Jazz Café at Music Hall is extremely proud to present A Very Special Solo Evening With Al Kooper", for one show only in the cozy confines of Jazz Café,
This amazing one man show will feature both Kooper on keyboards and guitar, playing many of the songs that he helped write, perform or shape –many which are some of Rock And Roll's greatest achievements. Kooper will also tell all of the inside stories to these and other historic Rock moments, making this one of the not to be missed shows for any serious Rock, Soul, Blues, Punk, Jazz and Pop fan.
Al will also meet, greet and sign memorabilia after the performance.
Al Kooper is often referred to as the "Zelig" or "Forrest Gump" of Rock.
Somehow, in a career that spans 50 years, he has managed to turn up at key points in Pop music history.
In 1958, Kooper began his professional career as guitarist in The Royal Teens ("Short Shorts"). He metamorphisized into a Tin Pan Alley songwriter with cuts by Gary Lewis, Gene Pitney, Keely Smith, Carmen MacRae, Pat Boone, Freddie Cannon, Lulu, Lorraine Ellison, Donnie Hathaway and later was sampled by The Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Pharcyde, and Alchemist to name but a few.
In the mid-sixties, Al was a member of The Blues Project and then founded Blood Sweat & Tears, remaining only for their debut album "Child Is Father To The Man." He then slipped his producer hat on and began with the top ten album "SuperSession" in 1968 featuring Mike Bloomfield & Stephen Stills. He is well known for his organ playing on Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone." He played off & on with Dylan for many years, live and in the studio. His playing skills have graced the works of The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Paul & Mary, Tom Petty, Joe Cocker, BB King, Taj Mahal, Alice Cooper, Roger McGuinn, Betty Wright, Trisha Yearwood, Tracy Nelson and scores more. Major moments include playing piano, organ and FRENCH HORN for The Rolling Stones on "You Cant Always Get What You Want," keyboards on George Harrison's #1 hit "All Those Years Ago," keys on "The Who Sell Out," and on "Electric Ladyland" for Jimi Hendrix.
As a producer he is best known for discovering Lynyrd Skynyrd and producing their first three albums including "Sweet Home Alabama," "Free Bird," "Gimme Three Steps," and "Saturday Night Special." His other producing clients included, The Tubes, Nils Lofgren, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Ray Charles, BB King, The Staple Singers, Lorraine Ellison, Bob Dylan, Joe Ely, Thelonious Monster and Green On Red. His autobiography "Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards" is considered by many to be a rock n roll must-read. He scored Hal Ashby's first film "The Landlord," John Waters film "Cry Baby," Michael Mann's TV series "Crime Story" and Peter Riegert's recent directorial debut "King Of The Corner."
There are many more credits, but in interest of space, we will close with his most recent solo album, 2008's "White Chocolate. His humorous appearances in the Martin Scorsese Dylan biopic "No Direction Home" were considered a highlight by many. In 2006, he was awarded the Milestone Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2007, the AES voted him the Les Paul Award presented to Al by its namesake, and in 2008, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall Of Fame. At 68, he shows no signs of retirement with a new album "White Chocolate", more live concerts, and the brisk sale of his book published for the third time in 2008.
Tickets:
Ticket prices are $30 (advance) & $40 (door). To buy tickets at Music Hall Box Office visit address at 350 Madison Ave., Detroit, MI. Call 313.887.8501 for Box Office
Jazz Cafe
350 Madison
Detroit, MI 48226