Michael Bloomfield: If You Love These Blues: An Oral History - Softcover

Wolkin, Jan Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1480394645 ISBN 13: 9781480394643

Publisher: Backbeat, 2014

Synopsis

Guitarist Michael Bloomfield shot to stardom in the '60s with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Bob Dylan, the Electric Flag and on Al Kooper's “Super Session.” His story is told in the words of his brother, musicians such as B.B. King, producer Paul Rothchild and dozens of others – including Bloomfield himself. Features a foreword by Carlos Santana, and access to online audio of unreleased early studio tracks.

“(This book) is a look inside the psyche of a musical innovator who deserves a posthumous Nobel Prize and a statue on Rush Street in Chicago. If you love his blues, you'll love this book.”

– Al Kooper

About this title

From the Publisher:

What they’re saying about the book:

"Having an oral history of Mike Bloomfield is probably the only way one could view the many sides and idiosyncrasies of such a talented, complex individual. I thought I knew him pretty well, but when I dove into these pages, I got an additional postgraduate education I never expected. Nothing will really patch the void in my life where he used to dwell, but this book put a smile on my face and brought back fond memories of my long-lost friend. For everyone else, it’s a look inside the psyche of a musical innovator who deserves a posthumous Nobel Prize and a statue on Rush Street in Chicago. If you love his blues, you’ll love this book." --Al Kooper

"This beautiful, tragic book resounds with the voices of Mike’s family and friends. For me, reading the story is transporting--and painful, so vividly does it bring to mind the lost-forever reality of a world with Michael Bloomfield in it." --Mark Naftalin

"This book captures not only the passion of an electrifying musician and unforgettable character, but also the richness of the culture in which he thrived, and upon which he exerted a profound influence." --Tom Wheeler, former Editor in Chief, Guitar Player magazine

What they’re saying about the man:

"The first time I saw Michael play guitar...it literally changed my life enough for me to say ‘this is what I want to do and be for the rest of my life.’" --Carlos Santana

"Michael was a brilliant young man. He had a great big heart. And he was a great guitarist. He was like a son to me." --B.B. King

"Michael Bloomfield was a really sweet guy and a brilliant guitar player, and he was really instrumental in getting me into being an electric guitar player." --Jorma Kaukonen

"He just played circles around anything I could play." --Bob Dylan

"I became a Bloomfield fan when that first Butterfield Blues Band record came out. We were all just awestruck." --Bob Weir

"I think the music industry owes Michael Bloomfield far more than they realize." --Bill Graham

"This was a major league guy. He helped people live their lives. He was a huge giant of a person." --Nick Gravenites

About the Author:

Jan Mark Wolkin edited and published the Bloomfield notes newsletter from 1994 to 1996. His work as a music journalist has appeared in the All Music Guide to the Blues, and Blues Access and Vintage Guitar magazines. Wolkin has assisted in the release of several posthumous Bloomfield CDs.

Bill Keenom, a Portland, Oregon native, lived in Hawaii from 1978 to 1988. A long-time Bloomfield fan, Bill has written a number of biographic articles on West Coast sports figures, and won an award for Excellence in Scholastic Journalism from The University of Oregon. He currently plays bass guitar in The Donna Jose Band and markets promotional items and art reproductions online at OceanZero.com and MotherArt.com respectively.

About this edition

• Publisher: Backbeat
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1480394645
• ISBN 13: 9781480394643
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288