Al Kooper

Had Al Kooper only ever played the universally recognizable organ part in Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone,” his place in rock history would be assured. But Kooper’s credits as a session player (on guitar and organ), producer, and songwriter are much more extensive. In addition to touring with Dylan in 1965, he also played with Mike Bloomfield, the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Cream, and the Who, and formed the bands The Blues Project and Blood, Sweat, & Tears. As a producer for Columbia Records Kooper signed the Zombies, and later Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose first three records he also produced. Kooper has appeared on hundreds of albums, and his original music, such as Blood, Sweat, & Tears’ debut, THE CHILD IS FATHER TO THE MAN, and SUPER SESSION (featuring Stephen Stills) are considered classics by rock intelligentsia.