10-9-2015

Legendary keyboardist, songwriter, and producer, Al Kooper created and played the classic organ riff on Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," appeared on Dylan's albums Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and Blonde on Blonde (1966) and produced New Morning for Dylan in 1970. He also toured as a member of Dylan's band off and on over the years. He was a member of the influential group The Blues Project with Danny Kalb and Steve Katz from 1965 to 1967. He formed Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1967, remaining with the group for its debut album Child Is Father to the Man (1968). Kooper was also the principal songwriter for both bands. As if all of that weren't enough, he also appeared on and produced 1968's platinum Super Session album with Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills. 

In addition to his legendary '60s work, Kooper has recorded and released over 10 solo albums over the last 40 years, including his latest release, 2008's White Chocolate. He has played as a sideman on albums by George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, The Who, Cream, and many more. He also discovered Lynyrd Skynyrd and produced the band's first three albums, which include the iconic tracks "Sweet Home Alabama," "Free Bird," and "Saturday Night Special." 

Kooper has also lent his production talents to The Tubes, Nils Lofgren, Mike Bloomfield, Stephen Stills, Appaloosa, The Don Ellis Band, Lenny White, B.B. King, Green On Red, Jimmy Vivino, David Essex, Johnny Van Zant, a Harry Nilsson tribute album and many other projects. His autobiogarphy, Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards, was published in 1998 and was critically hailed as one of the best rock books ever written.

Al Kooper has been there, done it all and lived to tell about it. A one of a kind show.