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 the last five
decades.
In 1958, Koop 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 topten album “SuperSession” in 1968 featuring Mike Bloomfield
& Stephen Stills.
Al
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, Al Kooper 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’s film “Cry Baby,” Michael Mann’s TV
series “Crime Story” and Peter Riegert’s recent directorial debut “King Of The
Corner.”
Al
Kooper’s live show accompanied by his band of Berklee professors, “The Funky
Faculty,” has been acclaimed all over the USA and in Japan, Italy, Spain,
Demark, Finland, Norway, The Czech Republic , with more countries lining up for
2009.
There
are many more credits, but in interest of space, we will close with his most
recent solo album “BLACK COFFE” released in 2005 to much critical acclaim
featuring four stars in MOJO magazine and three stars in Rolling Stone.
It was awarded the Memphis Blues Award for Comeback Album Of The Year. His
humorous appearances in the Martin Scorcese 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 65, 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.
Al Kooper
Al
Kooper is often referred to as the “Zelig” or “Forrest Gump”
of Rock.
