Al Kooper changed the direction of recorded music IMO!
Some of you may have never heard of him- others may get him mixed up with Vincent Fournier ( Alice Cooper). Al Kooper was responsible for Supersessions; Al Kooper Founded the Blues Project; Al Kooper founded Blood Sweat and Tears; Al Kooper discovered and produced Lynyrd Skynyrd for his Sounds of the South Label. Al Kooper is a rare Rock and Roll Survivor!
In a rare Q & A and book signing for his "Backstage Pass and Backstabbing Bastards- Memoirs of a Rock N' Roll Survivor" at Book Soup in West Hollywood, Kooper, now 64 talked about his early sessions with Dylan on "Like a Rolling Stone", how he found Lynyrd Skynyrd, how he started playing the guitar, recording with the Rolling Stones, and more. But Al was passionate about What killed the music industry- "Greed and Stupidity"- Stupidity that record executives sold out with downloads, and are now trying to change it back. ( I have said many times before, even if you put mustard in a ketchup bottle- it's still a ketchup bottle!)
Al talked of his upcoming 50th Anniversary show at BB King's in NYC on Feb 7, and a 50 track download of the top 50 songs picked from his solo albums remastered digitally. (His web site has more info) Al expressed his excitement that each song would allow the user to click on a link, and it would take them to notes and pictures concerning that track.
I have know Al since I booked him in for the first concert at Kent State after the 1970 National Guard shootings, and over the years our paths have crossed many times. It was good seeing him...and the book is probably the most truthful look at the vicious music industry from a Rock and Roll Legend.
-------------
Comments