AL KOOPER

Location: Mainstage

Genre: Al Kooper - Rock Guitarist, Organist, Iconoclast, Extraordinaire

Related Artists: Bob Dylan, Blood Sweat & Tears, Blue Project.

Latest Release: Black Coffee (2005)

".....At 61, almost no one alive has lived as much rock 'n' roll history as Mr. Kooper in his assorted lives as performer, producer, sideman, songwriter, author, talent scout, enthusiast, critic and muse...." - The New York Times

Tonight is a real chance to see and hear a legend!

If you have been paying attention to popular music over the last fifty years, you have heard the sound and style of Al Kooper. Kooper played the signature organ riff on Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want", Hendrix's "Long Hot Summer Nights", The Who's "Rael". He has also made a significant impact with his work in numerous bands and solo efforts.

Kooper's first band, The Royal Teens, had a Top Five Hit with with the tune "Short Shorts" in 1958 and a Top 30 hit a year later with "Believe Me." He played in the Blues Project, with guitarist Danny Kalb, bassist Andy Kulberg, guitarist Steve Katz, and drummer Roy Blumenfeld. The Blues Project helped spearhead the 60's urban blues sound, and three massively important and critically acclaimed albums coincided with his year-long stay. He then started the highly acclaimed Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and performed on their first album, Child is Father To Man.

What may go down as his greatest contribution to music is for signing Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Zombies, and Richard Thompson . In an issue devoted to The 500 Greatest Recordings of All Time, Rolling Stone magazine included 12 albums with serious participation by Al. Kooper remains a formidable performing talent, and one of the most inspired and intelligent people in rock music.


Musician, producer, songwriter, performing artist, and author Al Kooper was inducted into The Musician's Hall of Fame in Nashville during a star-studded celebration October 28th, 2008. The class of 2008 also included Booker T & The MG's, The Memphis Horns, The Crickets, Duane Eddy, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, and Country uber-producer, Billy Sherrill. Al joined last years inductees Motown's Funk Brothers, Elvin Presley's Blue Moon Boys, The LA Wrecking Crew, The Nashville A-Team, Johnny Cash's Tennessee Two, and The Memphis Boys.
For more information, visit www.alkooper.com

Also- don't miss
The Oral History Live! series at EMP|SFM with Al Kooper
JBL Theater
Saturday, January 17, 2009
7:00 pm

Free to EMP|SFM members; $5 general public, 206.770.2702 or 1.877.EMP.SFM1.
Reserved seats unclaimed 10 minutes prior to the event are subject to be released to the wait list.

Enjoy an interview with songwriter, record producer and musician Al Kooper. Kooper organized the group Blood, Sweat & Tears and has recorded with several distinguished artists, including Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Who, B. B. King and Cream.