Steve Katz (musician)

Steve Katz (born May 9, 1945 in Brooklyn , New York City ) is an American guitarist and singer who was best known as a member of the Blues Project and Blood, Sweat & Tears bands .

Life

Born in New York, Katz grew up in Schenectady , New York . At a young age he appeared as a talented musician. In the late 1950s, he played the latest hits on a local television show called Teenage Barn .

But he soon became more interested in the roots of popular music, folk and blues . In New York's Greenwich Village he found lots of like-minded people, including Stefan Grossman , Maria Muldaur and John Sebastian , with whom he played in the Even Dozen Jug Band in 1963 .

Katz dropped out of college and worked as a guitar teacher. He also played in various groups. Danny Kalb finally hired him in 1964 for his new band, which became known as the Blues Project . Katz played with the Blues Project in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival . A little later the group broke up.

Al Kooper won Katz in 1968 as a member of Blood, Sweat & Tears , where he played the guitar until 1972. After that, Katz worked mainly as a producer and manager, including with Lou Reed and the Irish folk band Horslips . Ireland became his second home.

Later Steve Katz withdrew more and more from the music business and lived secluded in upstate New York.

Web links

• Blood Sweat & Tears Homepage