Archive for Al Kooper
Touching Others Lives – Finale
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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.
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Touching Others Lives – Part 8 – Ronnie Van Zant
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“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..
Touching Others Lives – Bob Dylan – Part 4
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Even through bad times, we have to realize that we touch others lives when we don’t even realize it. We may have an issue with a friend, co-worker or family member, remember, it’s just that an issue. It’s not necessarily the person as a whole.. it’s the action that spurred us to become upset, angry or sad. It’s tough sometimes to find a place to put that emotion. If we realize though that we are responsible for our reactions and actions, that emotional bump in the road can be crossed.
Bob Dylan’s songs became anthems for Civil Rights Movements, he is a songwriter, singer, author, poet & painter, talk about artistic juices flowing and coursing through one’s veins.
Al Kooper was invited to sit in on a Dylan Session back in 1965, with the experience of session work he had done in the past, he felt quite comfortable playing and I can only imagine in his mind the night before that he was reeling with excitement at the chance. He arrived early to this gig, so he could set himself up comfortably and not feel to out of place when Dylan arrived like a spinning tornado through the door with an “bizarre-looking” guy – that would have been Mike Bloomfield. After hearing a few licks from Bloomfield, Kooper unplugged and scurried off to the control room. Thinking a dream had been shattered!
With an empty seat at Organ, Kooper decided to jump at the chance, albeit in his mind the night before, he was playing guitar, and not being as comfortable playing the organ, he saw an opportunity, dream achieved in a round about way. Lesson to be learned, don’t be afraid to take chances. Pages 35-36 in Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards
Years later, there was an issue with Dylan and Kooper, regarding credits on a project, Kooper walked away, and apparently decided it was not worth the destruction of a friendship. Not having spoke to Dylan for many years, Kooper was called to sit in on yet another project… somehow Kooper touched Dylan’s life, his music and his ability must have been engrained somewhere on Dylan’s soul.
Touching Others Lives & In Walks Al Kooper
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Continuing my Touching Others Lives Series, I give to you the focal point of the drawing. Which is being placed in the center of my recycled, thrown away, let’s put it in the landfill, discarded item, that I am going to transpose into a usable, conversation piece with a stunning array of art!
Let me introduce you to – Al Kooper, a survivor of the rock and roll lifestyle, we picked up his book called Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards
Al Kooper was, what’s called a Session Player, having to know how to play anything, anytime, when the phone rings, a musician for hire. Now with his band Funky Faculty, he has laid down so many tracks on Teen Records, that we are not even aware of whose behind the music.
Touching Others Lives, in a quiet existance of which so many of us are not aware of the impact and the music he added to our lives. Playing on This Diamond Ring performed by Gary Lewis & The Playboys. The story of how Al came to play with Bob Dylan on Like a Rolling Stone is something only his words do justice, pick up the book. Blood Sweat and Tears, started in the head of this session musician, creating a marriage between blue’s, rock and a horn section.
Can you imagine a man of this stature teaching you music? Well, for a short while he did teach but with a disease that took 2/3rds of his eye sight, he had to give that up. He is still sought after for tours & lectures as well as DJ’ing
This is a man who has Touched Others Lives, when you are sitting at your computer, or standing in line at the store, just think about those that you may never see behind the scenes, the one’s that in some off-handed way have touched your lives. If the stock boy didn’t stock, we would not find what we need, if the IT Pro didn’t stay behind at work until 2:00 am, we would not have smooth running computers, there are so many more behind the scene’s people that we have in our lives, that each and every day.. they have touched our lives.
