An Evening Of Songs And Stories With Steve Katz Comes to the Warner

Steve Katz, founding member of legendary bands Blood, Sweat & Tears and The Blues Project will be at the Warner's Studio Theatre on Friday, April 26 at 8 pm for an evening of stories and songs. National recording artists Lucinda and Michael will open the show! Steve, a guitarist, songwriter and record producer, was also an original member of Even Dozen Jug Band and American Flyer. As a producer and musician, his credits include albums by the Irish band Horslips, Lou Reed and Elliott Murphy. Katz studied guitar with Dave Van Ronk and Rev. Gary Davis. Between 1963 and 1980, he knew and was friends with seemingly everyone in rock 'n' roll and appeared on iconic stages at the Monterey Pop Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Woodstock, the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and the Ed Sullivan Show. He dined with Brian Epstein, partied with Groucho Marx, jammed with Mose Allison, worked with the Beatles' George Martin, shared a bag of potato chips with Jimi Hendrix and was told to get a haircut by Mickey Spillane. He was a producer of hit albums (for Lou Reed), a record company executive (Mercury, Green Linnet) and songwriter ("Sometime in Winter," "Steve's Song ).

As a member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, Steve was the recipient of a Grammy award in 1969 for Album of the Year, along with many awards from Downbeat and Playboy magazines. Today Steve still enjoys playing occasional shows and telling stories of his rock n roll years. "At the time, I loved what I was doing but never had the sense that this was going to be the future and I was going to be a star," he said. "I never thought of music that way. I just thought of it as something very special and I was very happy and lucky to be a part of it. Steve is married to ceramic artist Alison Palmer and has been a native of Kent, CT for over 20 years. Copies of Steve's memoir, Blood, Sweat and My Rock 'n' Roll Years: Is Steve Katz a Rock Star? will be available for purchase. With heartfelt lyrics, strong and memorable pop and rock melodies, and an undeniable stage presence, Lucinda Rowe and Michael Connolly have captured a loyal audience all over the United States. Embraced by commercial and independent radio, their original music has met with notoriety through-out the country.

Their original music has been followed by many and both are award winning songwriters with awards and showcases from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and National Academy of Popular Music in New York City. Additionally, Lucinda and Michael have received five Humanitarian Awards for their musical endeavors performing for people and families affected by or living with HIV and AIDS. The New York Times stated, Lucinda is this generations Karen Carpenter. To purchase tickets, call the Warner Box Office at 860-489-7180 or visit warnertheatre.org.

Built by Warner Brothers Studios and opened in 1931 as a movie palace (1,772 seats), the Warner Theatre was described then as "Connecticut's Most Beautiful Theatre." Damaged extensively in a flood, the Warner was slated for demolition in the early 1980s until the non-profit Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts (NCAA) was founded and purchased the theatre. The Warner reopened as a performing arts center in 1983, and restoration of the main lobbies and auditorium was completed in November 2002. In 2008, the new 50,000 square foot Carole and Ray Neag Performing Arts Center, which houses a 300 seat Studio Theatre, 200 seat restaurant and expansive school for the arts, was completed. Today, the Warner is in operation year-round with more than 160 performances and 100,000 patrons passing through its doors each season. Over 10,000 students, pre K-adult, participate in arts education programs and classes. Together, with the support of the community, the Warner has raised close to $17 million to revitalize its facilities. NCAA's mission is to preserve the Warner Theatre as an historic landmark, enhance its reputation as a center of artistic excellence and a focal point of community involvement, and satisfy the diverse cultural needs of the region.

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