I hope I have educated many on some of our Greatest Session Players that were intertwined in the life of  Al Kooper, this is the final piece of my recycled end table that will hopefully find a home.

Touching Other’s Lives is one reason we are all here…

Those that are intertwined in our lives can be great influences on many of our decisions.  As bloggers,  we open ourselves up to new opportunities and new relationships on a daily basis.  Intertwining with people of similar interests or those that we can help with the littlest bit of advice, we have Touched Other’s Lives.

I have been blogging for over a year now, and continue to be amazed at the amount of people that come in and leave comments, those that answer the questions that I have pondered.  I am sure I am not alone when it comes to having run into some of the “ego’s” or less than helpful folks out there.  It amazes me that some of these jokers will not take the time of day to Touch Other’s Lives, the big dog’s on the porch so to speak.

The power that comes from helping someone achieve something is over whelming - and in all honesty can we take our knowledge with us when all is said and done? Leaving a mark on someone when you influence them is all part of the learning process.  Learning to communicate, leaving comments on others blogs, sending a small thank you note when someone has helped you, it’s a cyber cycle of touching others lives.

Go forward today and comment on someone’s blog that you usually wouldn’t, keep the circle going.

“To me, there’s nothing freer than a bird, you know, just flying wherever he wants to go. And, I don’t know, that’s what this country is all about, being free. I think everyone wants to be a free bird.”  Ronnie Van Zant

Van Zant wanted to be a boxer, a baseball player or stock car driver, it was not until hearing the Rolling Stones that his career path took on new dimensions.

Capricorn Records was based in Georgia, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Manager was the younger brother to Phil Walden, big wig at Capricorn, wasn’t interested in Skynyrd.  Al Kooper took a shot, created his own label which was bankrolled by MCA Records.  Skynyrd ended up on Al’s doorstep.  With a late night phone call from Ronnie Van Zant to Al Kooper, after their equipment was stolen, Al lent them 5,000.00 dollars.

Saying of Van Zant, he was a man of his word, he ruled that band with an iron fist, and God help any band member who crossed him.  Not always agreeing with Kooper’s ideas as their producer, Van Zant would listen to his ideas, because perhaps 1 out of 20 of those idea’s would be a good one.

In today’s society, we are often times afraid of ideas, putting them out there and seeing if they stick can bring us some of our greatest moments.  I may at one time post one of my original paintings, I look at this painting now, one that I was so proud of, and go.. OH MY GOD. I can look back now and see how far my skills as an artist have come.   I do laugh though, when I think how proud I was of this particular piece, which I had painted on a jean jacket, and proudly walked around with it on my back.

I am sure others must have chuckled at me.. my point is, if it is something you are sure about, as Kooper was this Southern Rock Band - go for it..

A slide guitar great that has been playing blues for 45 years!

I didn’t hit this one on the head, and had to step back and look - I took his jaw on this drawing to much to an extreme.. don’t know what happened, but not all works can be perfect - draw & learn.  Here’s the pic I went off..

Stepping up when a friend is in need when Mike Bloomfield ducked out of another performance due to his insomnia, it was at the Fillmore - Al Kooper was put into a predicament once again to find some players that would rock the house.

Calling up Carlos Santana, Stevie Miller, Jerry Garcia and Elvin Bishop.  Playing past closing time, the musicians with the passion, showed up, played their hearts out and bailed out a friend in a jam.  Why, because they were and still are passionate about playing guitar and making music.

Elvin Bishop had a guest spot on The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield & Al Kooper, not as much of a success as Super Sessions, but still some great instrumentals - The Band’s - The Weight, a Classic Booker T’s - Green Onions, and much more!

It is amazing reading Elvin Bishop’s Bio - the lives he touched and the people that he has influenced.

From his site -

And then, late one night when Elvin was 14 or 15, the atmospheric conditions a little rough, Jimmy Reed’s harmonica came cutting through the static from WLAC in Nashville, and Elvin Bishop’s life was changed

Hooked on the sounds emerging from the radio, Elvin had to find out where they were coming from and who was responsible. When he was awarded a National Merit Scholarship in 1959, he could have gone to pretty much any college he wanted, but chose The University Of Chicago, because that’s where the blues were. And so he landed in the middle of one of the richest and most vital scenes in blues history.

I wonder do we give our children these opportunities now to follow their passions, or do we actually push them to hard? My son is going to be 17 in a few weeks, and we raised him openly, honestly and did not push him in any one direction.  We have treated him as an adult, we did not force soccer, football, arts, after school clubs, or anything of the like down his throat.  We signed him up for soccer, he played for a short while, he did not have the “passion” to go after that ball.  Being 6 foot 3 inches tall, and over 250 - I so could see him playing football, and so could the coaches, but he does not have the passion to do it.

I have watched several of the kids he went to school with, one’s that were forced to do as many extra curricular activities as they could fit into a day, now, coming into their own as teens - and they seem to be taking some of that freedom of choice back, and it’s becoming evident, it’s not always the best choice how they are using that freedom.

To be who we are, do what we love - we can only grow more and share the emotions that the passion from doing so creates!

Stephen Stills, musician & songwriter best know for his part in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - a great line up unto itself.  Also known for his work in Buffalo Springfield.

Stephen Stills was one of the first, if not the last to be nominated into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, twice in one night for his work in both the above bands.

His influence ranged from Blues, Folk & Latin Music - Diversity.  A quality that we often forget about, being diverse, we focus on what’s easy, what we are familiar with.  There is an entire world out there that we know nothing about.  Start exploring and start trying something new!

Al Kooper was in a bit of a predicament when Mike Bloomfield left him a note during Super Sessions… “Dear Alan, Couldn’t Sleep…went home…sorry.  Under the gun with half an album recorded, studio time booked and musicians ready to play..heading for the phone and leaving messages for players he knew would pre-vail.. in walked Stephen Stills, Buffalo Springfield had just broken up and Al Kooper knew his guitar playing was sizzling.  Signed with another label, and of course, red tape, but great minds have a way of figuring those things out.. Corporate America at it’s finest.. it’s all about the money.

Luck & Diversity…Stephen Stills availability went up to the top twenty, went gold & went into our musical history books! Stephen Stills touches others lifes through the diversity of his music, touching many genre’s and creating memories as we listen to what he has released in his career.

Step out of your known comfort zone… diversify yourself today, pick up an album, cd or something you wouldn’t normally listen to, or normally do.. it may bring a smile to your face, it may open opportunites.

My music tastes can pretty much go from one end of the spectrum to the other on any given day.  Just depending on the mood I am in.

I would like to introduce you to a local Chicago Band that is up & coming in the Punk/Rock Genre.  Still Fallen is comprised of - left to right - Matt, Kristy, Luke & Nick.  Recently appearing at Chicago’s Double Door.

Many bands are formed in young minds and are set up in garages across the globe, with their dedication to playing & their thirst to move forward, this is group that we may want to keep our eye on.

This is a sketch that I did of Still Fallen, which I just threw together in about an hour and a half, to give to Nick! He’s the one that sold my son the Black SG Junior for 10.00

Check out more Live Chicago Music you just never know what you will find when you step out of your current music genre !

I will also continue my Touching Others Lives Series - it’s a continued work in progress…so check back often