1974

THE RECORDING

In September 1974, Bob Dylan recorded the tracks for his album “Blood on the Tracks” in New York.  During a visit home to Minneapolis, he was convinced that some of them needed to be redone, so his brother David assembled a group of local musicians.

Those musicians were:

• Bill Berg – Drums
• Gregg Inhofer – Piano and organ
• Kevin Odegard – Guitar
• Peter Ostroushko – Mandolin
• Billy Peterson – Bass
• Chris Weber – Guitar

 

On Friday, December 27, 1974, the group met at Sound 80 Studios with engineer Paul Martinson, and recorded “Idiot Wind” and “You’re a Big Girl Now.”

On the following Monday night, December 30, they returned to record “Tangled up in Blue,” “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts,” and “If You See Her, Say Hello.”

The drawing below depicts Dylan rehearsing “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts” with the band on December 30, 1974.  The sketch is by drummer Bill Berg, who went on to become a Disney animator, animating 19 lead characters for the studio.

 

 

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1975

THE ALBUM

 

The record was released in the U.S. on January 20, 1975.  It reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts and the single “Tangled Up in Blue” reached No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The album remains one of Dylan’s best-selling studio releases, going double-platinum.  In 2015 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The Minneapolis musicians were not listed on the record jacket.  Initially they were told that thousands had already been printed up, but the error would be rectified on subsequent re-pressings.  It never was.  It was explained to me that the issue was not royalties – these were session players who were paid Union scale for their work.  But once a record hits, others want to use the same studio, the same engineer, the same microphones, and most of all, the same musicians.  The label’s refusal to identify these talented musicians, attributing the entire album to the New York musicians, was a frustrating and perplexing move that lasted for 44 years.

 

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REUNIONS

The Blood on the Tracks Studio Band has reunited several times:

2001

The Million Dollar Bash commemorated Dylan’s 60th birthday at First Avenue on May 23, 2001.  The show was the brainchild of community activist/songwriter Paul Metsa, and put together by First Avenue’s Nathan Kranz.

Five of the six Minnesota musicians performed together for the first time since the 1974 sessions.

View Kevin’s rendition of “Tangled Up in Blue” from that show Here.

Scores of special guest joined them.  Sherwin Linton remembers singing “Boots of Spanish Leather” and “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall.”

Paul Metsa remembers that “Dylan’s childhood buddy Larry Kegan invited Bob down, telling him it was a cool scene (Bob was staying at his farm west of town) but it rained liked hell so he didn’t make it. Imagine if he did!”

 

 

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2004

On March 3, 2004, Bill Berg joined the troupe for a sold-out encore at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis.   It was the only performance where all six original members of the band were present.  I was one of the lucky 1,014 fans that night!

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Songs were sung in the order of the album; two are available online:

• Tangled Up in Blue:  Gregg Inhofer
• A Simple Twist of Fate:  Kevin Odegard
• You’re a Big Girl Now:  Mary Lee Kortes
• Idiot Wind:  Adam Levy
• You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go:  Eric Weissberg
• Meet Me in the Morning:  Pat Hayes
• Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts:  Martin Devaney (with some hilarious assistance with cue cards from Marc Percansky ala “Subterranean Homesick Blues” that turned out to be fun but unnecessary to Devaney, who never missed a beat or a  line)
• If You See Her, Say Hello:  Chris Weber
• Shelter From the Storm:  Sherwin Linton
• Buckets of Rain:  Mary Lee Kortes

 

Martin Devaney also did  a knockout job on the harmonica throughout the show.

 

On March 7, 2004, Star Tribune music editor Jon Bream wrote his review of the show:

A performance by Bob Dylan’s uncredited 1974 Minneapolis sidemen put the emphasis on the musicianship, the songs and the spirit. The rhythm section of Bill Berg and Billy Peterson was superb; solos by mandolinist Peter Ostroushko and guest harmonica player Martin Devaney stood out, and Marc Percansky, a chip off the old Bob, provided perfect levity with flash cards of key lyrics to “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts.” Best of show: Adam Levy’s blistering “Idiot Wind.”

 

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2005

On May 7, 2005, the Blood on the Tracks Studio Band was inducted into the Minnesota Rock/Country Hall of Fame (now the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame) in 2005.

 

 

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Also in 2005, British journalist Andy Gill and Kevin Odegard co-authored the successful book  A Simple Twist of Fate: Bob Dylan and The Making of Blood On The Tracks.  The book provides a blow-by-blow description of what went on during those two sessions at the Sound 80 Recording Studio.

 

On August 14, 2005, Blood on the Tracks Live was inducted into the St. Cloud Hall of Fame, in conjunction with an exhibit of Minnesota music at the Stearns County History Museum.

 

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2006

On May 27, 2006, Blood on the Tracks Live performed at Hibbing High School in conjunction with Hibbing’s annual Dylan Days. Musicians included Stan Kipper, Billy Peterson, Gregg Inhofer, Kevin Odegard, Bill Berg, and Peter Ostroushko.

 

The photos below come courtesy of Nelson French:

 

 

 

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2008

On November 22, 2008, there was a performance at the St. Paul Jewish Community Center, which included a spoken appreciation by noted songwriter Dan Wilson.  Photo below courtesy Kevin Odegard.

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On December 19, 2008,  the group performed at a Holiday Jam at e.p. atelier, an arts-driven downtown collective.

Pictured below are Jeff Boday Christiansen, Scott Dercks, Kevin Odegard, Javier Trejo, Stan Kipper, Larry Seuss. Kneeling: Mark Chico Perez, Gary Lopac. Not shown: Brian Van Tassel, and organizers Shar Kanan & Diane Ingram. 

 

 

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FREE SHOWS AT THE ST. LOUIS PARK VETERANS AMPHITHEATER

2009

On July 1, 2009, Kevin Odegard initiated a “Blood on the Tracks Live” show at the Veterans’ Amphitheater in St. Louis Park, joined by fellow album mates Billy Peterson, Gregg Inhofer, and Peter Ostroushko.   Kevin remembers:

In the summer of 2008, recovering from a rough patch in my life, I wandered into Wolfe Park alone on an evening walk, hearing the sounds of live music emanating from the grassy bowl of Veterans Memorial Amphitheater. At that moment I felt a new spiritual strength returning to my heart, and set out to test the waters for another round of Blood on the Tracks Live gigs.

Press Release:

The St. Louis Park Summer Concert Series presents a once-in-a-lifetime event featuring local musicians who have achieved national recognition.  THE KO BAND SUMMER JAM presents Blood on the Tracks Live, a Dylan tribute band fronted by members of Dylan’s 1974 studio band, headlining a 7 pm FREE outdoor concert at Wolfe Park Amphitheater.

Unlike any other tribute band, BLOOD ON THE TRACKS LIVE is fronted by Bob Dylan’s sidemen.   Performing Dylan songs from throughout his incredible career, this ever-changing lineup blends the stories behind the classics with inspired performances.  The seven founding members each played a role in recording Dylan’s bestselling 1975 Columbia Records album.

Since 2000, players have included:

• Eric Weissberg  (“Deliverance”)
• Bill Berg
• Willard O. (Billy) Peterson (Steve Miller Band)
• Gregg Inhofer (Olivia Newton-John)
• Kevin Odegard (co-author, A Simple Twist Of Fate: Bob Dylan and The Making of Blood On The Tracks)
• Chris Weber
• Peter Ostroushko (Red House recording artist)
• Stan Kipper (Gypsy, Little Richard, Jay Ferguson)
• Marylee Kortes
• Adam Levy (Honey Dogs, Bunny Clogs)
• Pat Hayes (Lamont Cranston Blues Band)
• Sherwin Linton
• Gary Lopac
• Peter Lang
• Matt Fink (Prince & The Revolution)
• Martin Devaney
• Patty Peterson
• Javier Trejo
• Larry Seuss
• Chico Perez
• Scott Dercks
• Jeff “Boday” Christensen
• Brian Van Tassel

 

Scheduled to appear at this 2009 show are studio band members Kevin Odegard, Peter Ostrousko, Gregg Inhofer, and Billy Peterson.  Also on the bill are Stan Kipper, Chico Perez, Larry Suess, Scott Dercks, Kevin Bowe, Dan Israel, Matt “Dr.” Fink from Prince and the Revolution, and special guests.

THE KO BAND SUMMER JAM   Opening the show is the KO Band with Jeff Dayton and St. Louis Park native Bobby Z  Rivkin.  In 1975, just before St Louis Park-born brothers Bobby Z Rivkin and David Rivkin earned international acclaim, they collaborated on David’s debut as a producer on “Silver Lining,” the second album by Dylan sideman Kevin Odegard.  The title song, written by David, triggered national radio airplay and media interest, and the group hit the road as The KO Band, with Bobby Z on drums and Glen Campbell’s future bandleader Jeff Dayton on guitar.

David Rivkin was associated with three major Twin Cities rock ‘n’ roll bands: the Chancellors, the High Spirits, and Stillroven.  Later, he prospered – both locally and nationally – as a songwriter, session musician, record promoter, producer and engineer.  Among the renowned recording artists David has produced are Leo Kottke, Fine Young Cannibals, Bodeans, and John Mayall.  In addition to his extensive studio work with Prince, David’s greatest success came when he produced St. Louis Park resident Steven Greenberg’s Lipps Inc.’s worldwide smash hit “Funkytown.”

Bobby Z played drums for Prince and the Revolution from 1978 to 1987. Also a successful producer and songwriter, Bobby has worked with influential artists such as Boy George, Manhattan Transfer, Colin Hay (Men at Work), Jonny Lang, George Thorogood, Wendy and Lisa, Garrison Keillor, and others.

In 2008, Bobby and David were inducted into the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame.

This is a rare opportunity to hear these local musicians who achieved national success.

WATCH THE SHOW

This first show was recorded by St. Louis Park Community TV.  It can be seen Here.

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MAGIC MARC

The Master of Ceremonies for this 2009 – and every – show was “Magic Marc” Percansky.  Forever young, the photo of Marc below is from 2014.

 

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2010

Press Release:

Join us for a parade of hits from the homegrown musicians who played on Bob Dylan’s bestselling album 1975 album.  The group is back for a second year at Wolfe Park, this time highlighting the songs of Dylan’s bestselling album “Blonde on Blonde.”

BLOOD ON THE TRACKS LIVE was formed in 1974 when Bob Dylan recorded his seminal album “Blood on the Tracks” in New York and then re-recorded five tracks in Minneapolis using local musicians.  The story of the making of “Blood on the Tracks” is told in the book A Simple Twist of Fate:  Bob Dylan and the Making of “Blood on the Tracks” by Andy Gill and Kevin Odegard.

Scheduled to appear in Blood on the Tracks Live on August 21 are original musicians Billy Peterson, Peter Ostroushko and Kevin Odegard, along with local-and nationally-respected artists Stan Kipper, Chico Perez, Matt Fink, Gary Lopac, Scott Dercks, Lonnie Knight, Scott Sansby, Jeff Dayton, Billy Hallquist, Paul Metsa, Peter Lang, Kevin Bowe, Alison Scott, Dan Israel, Patty Peterson, Gretchen Seichrist, Adam Levy, Jim Steinworth, and special guests.

 

The 2010 Concert was recorded by St. Louis Park Community TV, and can be seen Here.  Running time 3 hours, 10 minutes.

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2011

For the third year in a row, Blood on the Tracks Live staged a tribute to the music of Bob Dylan at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in Wolfe Park, St. Louis Park.  The concert was held on August 20.  Due to the overwhelming popularity of the previous two years, a second show was added on August 17 at the Town Green in Maple Grove.

Throughout the years, numerous local musicians have joined “the family,” giving Blood on the Tracks Live a constantly changing look and sound.  The group has evolved into a Dylan tribute band, not restricting artist song selections to any one album. Songs from “Blood on the Tracks” were performed, along with songs from many other albums and periods of Dylan’s career.

2011’s featured performer was Minnesota native Joyce Everson.  During the 1970s, Joyce was discovered by Rod Stewart, released an album “Crazy Lady” on Warner Bros., added unforgettable harmonies to Jackson Browne’s masterpiece “Late For The Sky,” and performed on Saturday Night Live. Joyce made her first Twin Cities appearance in 20 years.

Also performing at one or both of the concerts were original studio musicians Kevin Odegard and Billy Peterson, musical director Matt Fink, Billy Hallquist, Stan Kipper, Chico Perez, Gary Lopac, Dan Israel, Paul Metsa, Patty Peterson, Scott Sansby, Mark Lamoine, Barry Thomas Goldberg, Gene LaFond, James Loney, The Unknown Idol (a man from the audience) and more.  Marc Percansky was master of ceremonies at both evenings’ events.

 

 

Opening the shows was the L.A. Rod and Reel Club, a band fronted by Odegard with long time collaborators Gary Lopac and Billy Hallquist. They performed a set of original material from their recently released CD “El Nino.”

The St. Louis Park show was part of the city’s Summer Concert Series and was held at the Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater at Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Ave.

The Maple Grove show was presented by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and was held at the Town Green, 7991 Main St N.  The Town Green was a new urban park that provides a distinctive community gathering place with its main focus on the performing arts. The landmark feature of the park is the bandshell with a dramatic wing-like roof canopy located at the water’s edge. Seating for 300 is incorporated into a classic terraced bowl shape with ample space beyond for visitors to spread out and enjoy the park.

The St. Louis Park show was recorded by Park TV and can be seen Here.  Running time 3 hours.

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2012

Town Green (Maple Grove) and Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in Wolfe Park (St. Louis Park) again hosted free concerts featuring many of the area’s finest musicians performing an evening of songs by Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Minnesota native Bob Dylan.

This marked the fourth year in a row that Blood on the Tracks Live performed at the St. Louis Park venue and the second  annual event in Maple Grove. Combined attendance in 2011 topped 5,000.

A reunion of the original session players in 2001 inspired the formation of Blood on the Tracks Live. In the decades since, the band evolved and expanded into its present configuration, which is an extremely dedicated and diverse collection of musicians who come together annually to perform “A Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan.”

Joining Odegard, the 2012 line up included many returning veterans of past shows: Bobby Z, Matt Fink, Patty Paterson, Billy Hallquist, Gary Lopac, Stan Kipper, Chico Perez, Lonnie Knight, Scott Sansby, Paul Metsa, Dan Israel, Barry Thomas Goldberg, Gene LaFond, James Loney, Jim Steinworth, Ralph Dacut, Steve Grossman, and Master of Ceremonies Marc Percansky.

Artists making their debut included Twin City Country Rock Legends the Daisy Dillman Band and Songstress Extraordinaire Mary Jane Alm, plus Kenny Krona, Aaron Ollswang, Barbara Meyer, Phil Berdahl, and Marc Partridge.

In 2012 Odegard handed the organizational reins to longtime friend and fellow musician Billy Hallquist,  It was also the last year that Odegard, the last remaining member of the Blood on the Tracks band to be involved, left the group, and the event was renamed “Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan” in 2013.

 

The St. Louis Park show was recorded by Park TV and can be seen Here (Running time 3:38)

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2013

Town Green (Maple Grove) and Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in Wolfe Park (St. Louis Park) again hosted free concerts featuring many of the area’s finest musicians performing an evening of songs by Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Minnesota native Bob Dylan.

This marked the fifth year in a row that Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan performed at the St. Louis Park venue and the third annual event in Maple Grove. Combined attendance in 2012 topped 6,000.

The 2013 line up included many returning veterans of past shows; Bandleader Billy Hallquist, Matt Fink, Patty Peterson, Mary Jane Alm, Jeff Dayton, Gary Lopac, Lonnie Knight, Scott Sansby, Stan Kipper, Chico Perez, Paul Metsa, Dan Israel, Gene LaFond, James Loney, Jim Steinworth, Ralph Dacut, Aaron Ollswang, Kenny Krona,  Barbara Meyer, Steve Grossman, Jeff Victor, and Master of Ceremonies Marc Percansky.

 

Artists making their Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan debut include Arne Fogel, Willie Walker, and Courtney Yasmineh.

As in previous shows, members of Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan performed a set of original material to kick off the evening.

Minnesota-born Thomas Page was also on hand to inform Dylan fans about his project to create and place a commemorative statue of Bob Dylan at a prominent site in his birthplace, Duluth.

The 2013 concerts were the first ones produced by Billy Hallquist.

 

The St. Louis Park concert can be seen Here.  (Running time 3 hours, 38 minutes)

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2014

Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan Welcomes Dylan Violinist, Scarlet Rivera

Town Green (Maple Grove) and Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in Wolfe Park (St. Louis Park) again hosted free concerts featuring many of the area’s finest musicians performing an evening of songs by Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Minnesota native Bob Dylan.

This marked the sixth year in a row that Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan (formerly Blood on the Tracks Live) performed at the St. Louis Park venue and the fourth annual event in Maple Grove. Every year these shows draw thousands of attendees.

The core band, consisting of leader Billy Hallquist, Matt Fink, Lonnie Knight, Gary Lopac, Stan Kipper, Chico Perez, Ralph Dacut, Jim Steinworth and Aaron Ollswang was joined by guests Patty Peterson, Gene LaFond, Barbara Meyer, James Loney with Edie Rae and Colleen O., Barry Thomas Goldberg, Arne Fogel,  Dan Israel, Mark Lamoine, Kenny Krona and Steve Grossman. Keeping the watches wound and trains on time was Master of Ceremonies “Magic” Marc Percansky.

This conglomeration of talent boasts nearly 1,000 years of combined experience and 100,000+ performances.

A brief set of original material by Chrome Horse Diplomats preceded the Dylan Salute at each show.

SCARLET RIVERA

Making a special appearance was world-renowned violinist Scarlet Rivera. Scarlet burst on the scene when Dylan hired her to record and tour with him during the epic “Desire,” “Hard Rain,” Rolling Thunder Revue and Renaldo & Clara period. Since those heady days she has continued to perform and record solo and with a long line of “A-list” artists around the planet.

Scarlet worked with Salute to the Music of Bob Dylan last May at a benefit to restore the Historic Duluth Armory and made such an impression that inviting her to the Twin Cities events was inevitable.

The August 6 concert took place at Town Green, 7991 Main Street N., Maple Grove.

 

On August 9 the show moved to Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Dr., St. Louis Park.

 

The highlight of the concerts was the song “Hurricane,” where Scarlet and Lonnie Knight went string-to-string in tour de force performances that sent chills down our spines.

 

The St. Louis Park concert can be seen Here (Running time 3:19)

 

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THE DAKOTA

An added treat was a concert on August 10, 2014, at the Dakota, featuring Scarlet Rivera backed by the “Salute to Bob Dylan” house band.

 

 

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2015

For the seventh year, some of the Twin Cities’ top musicians  gathered for free outdoor concerts featuring the music of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and Minnesota native Bob Dylan.  Each year’s events have evolved and grown, and this year was no different.  This year featured a classic lineup of some of Bob’s best known songs to celebrate 15 years of honoring these uncredited but extremely talented musicians.

A TRIBUTE TO BILLY HALLQUIST

 After a brief set of songs by Jeff Dayton, this year’s shows began with performances of original songs written by Billy Hallquist.  Hallquist acted as organizer, bandleader, publicist, guitarist, and singer at these shows, and was the glue that holds them together.  In late 2014 he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, and braced for a second fight for his life, having survived polio as a child.

Even while undergoing chemotherapy, he continued to organize the 2015 summer concerts, including two additional concerts featuring “Minnesota Legends” groups Jokers Wild, Thundertree, and the Litter.

 

A fund was set up to offset some of Billy’s medical expenses, and donations were accepted at the Dylan concerts.  Billy was a much-loved fixture in the Minnesota musical community; he was a member of Thundertree and the K.O. Band, and put out two of his own albums: “Persephone” and “Travelin’.”  His son Dan was the producer of the 2015 Dylan concerts, and Odegard was back in the lineup.

The core band, consisting of Hallquist, Odegard, Gary Lopac, Jeff Dayton, Bobby ‘Z’ Rivkin, Scott Sansby, Lonnie Knight, Jim Steinworth, Aaron Ollswang, and Mark Lamoine were joined by Stan Kipper, Chico Perez, Matt Fink, Patty Peterson, Mary Jane Alm, Ralph Dacut, Kenny Krona, Dan Israel, Steve Grossman, Barbara Meyer, James Loney with Edie Rae and Colleen O, Barry Thomas Goldberg, Arne Fogel, John Pattison, Patrick Nettesheim, and Courtney Yasmineh.  Master of Ceremonies was “Magic” Marc Percansky.

 

The St. Louis Park concert can be seen Here.  (Running time 3 hours, 9 minutes)

Billy Hallquist died on October 12, 2015, and the concerts came to an end.

 

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2017

We lost the brilliant Lonnie Knight on May 7, 2017, also from cancer.

SUMMER OF LOVE

Perhaps unwilling to give up those happy vibes, or wanting one last celebration, in 2017 Kevin Odegard organized a “Summer of Love” concert at the St. Louis Park amphitheater.  Kevin wrote:

After a year’s hiatus, the Minnesota musicians who brought us the tributes to Bob Dylan for seven years are back for one final concert, saluting the 50^th Anniversary of 1967’s Summer of Love.

It was a summer like none before or since, with unforgettable music coming from our radios, TV shows like “Shindig” and “Hullabaloo,” and the 12-string guitars of local bands, jingle-jangling the message of peace and love in a difficult time of unrest.  St. Louis Park contributed musicians to local groups like the High Spirits, the Chancellors, the Avanties, and others who played as we danced at Mr. Lucky’s, the Barn, and right here at the Purple Cigar.

On July 29 at 6:30 in Wolfe Park, a bumper crop of Minnesota’s finest rock musicians re-imagines the hit songs and the joyful anthems of the flower power generation.

Kevin Odegard, leader of the Minneapolis band that backed five cuts on Bob Dylan’s seminal “Blood on the Tracks” album, is a co-producer of this, his final park concert.  He marks it with a poignant, special suite written just for the occasion.

Fellow “Blood on the Tracks” alumnus, Americana music virtuoso Peter Ostroushko, returns to the Wolfe Park stage this summer.  Ostroushko is nationally known for his appearances on “A Prairie Home Companion,” among his many other accomplishments.

The concert is co-produced by Odegard’s lifelong pal Stan Kipper, who has played with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jay “Thunder Island” Ferguson, and many of America’s greatest stars. Kipper says, “The concert this year will a perfect time to celebrate with family and friends. Reconnect with yourself, wear flowers, break out the bell bottoms and sandals, dance with your family and neighbors, sing along with us, and remember the days and fun times you had during the Summer of Love. It’s going to be the best night of the summer for the folks at Wolfe Park in SLP!”

Other musicians on the bill include Barbara Meyer, Gary Lopac, Aaron Ollswang, Jim Steinworth, New Primitives and fun surprise guest musicians.  The MC is St. Louis Park’s Magic Marc Percansky.

“And we’ll tip the hat to Bob Dylan before it’s all over,” says Odegard, “with the help of a choir and ukulele club.”

Opening the show is Milwaukee’s Kharma Shotgun, the official band of Guitars for Vets charity. The band also acknowledges the loss of core member and guitar player extraordinaire, Lonnie Knight, with a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

This year’s show is rain or shine, thanks to the completion of the sheltered ROC, St. Louis Park’s new covered facility adjacent to Wolfe Park.

 

 

The concert can be viewed Here (Running time:  2 hours, 47 minutes)

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GUITARS FOR VETS

In 2010 the show began to raise support and awareness of Guitars for Vets, a national organization dedicated to serving veterans who face challenges due to post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Participants receive basic music instruction and, upon completion of the program, a guitar of their own.  Cash donations and guitars are collected at the concerts for the G4V organization, and G4V merchandise is for sale as well.  According to longtime stage manager Marc Percansky, our efforts over the years totaled $35,000 in donations.

 

 

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KEVIN SUMS UP THE CONCERTS

Over seven years, we included four of the six Minnesota musicians in performances that went far beyond the five songs we’d recorded at Sound 80 all those years ago. Unforgettable performances by Patty Peterson, Paul Metsa, an “Unknown Idol” plucked from the audience (the late John Pattison), Peter Ostroushko, Mary Jane Alm, Jeff Victor, Dan Israel, Stan Kipper, Barbara Meyer, Steve Grossman, Jeff Dayton, Gary Lopac and a ragged outfit called Dirt Farmers. On keyboards much of the time was Matt Fink of the Revolution. Bobby Z showed up twice to play with his first band mates.  Best of all, the community of St Louis Park supported us and a corps of volunteers led by Jeanne Andersen showed up year after year for our homespun crusade.

You may be interested in visiting Kevin’s YouTube page, Here.

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MY STORY

I also have to tell this story.  I met Kevin Odegard through Joe, our mutual hairdresser.  Kevin had this idea to use the St. Louis Park amphitheater, and Joe knew I had connections within St. Louis Park and I was into music.  So Kevin and I had a meeting and he handed me a press release he had written, announcing that the KO Band was getting back together, and by the way, after that would be the Blood on the Tracks Studio Band.  Well, I had listened to BOTT incessantly in the  ’80s, been to the show at the Pantages, saw them inducted into the Rock/Country Hall of Fame, and knew what a big deal they were, and yelled at my new friend that nobody cared about the KO Band – BOTT was the draw here!  Nevertheless I was skeptical, since I’d never seen more than 30  people at the Amphitheater.

Well, I turned the press release around and contacted the person at the city, who wanted to know where she could hear them play.  Lady!!  I finally explained it to her, and papered the papers with releases.  My friend Seth Rowe at the St. Louis Park Sun-Sailor was so wonderful at spreading the news, and it must have made the Strib as well.  When the day came, I put signs out in case people didn’t know where to park, and I was so nervous!  I sat in the back with Park TV cameraman John McHugh and watched the place fill up, with wonderment.  It was at capacity, as it was every single year, even the year it was raining!  We did it!  Well, I didn’t do anything – I can’t sing or play a note.  All these years later I still get my hair done by Joe in gratitude for introducing me to Kevin!

Jeanne

 

Thanks due to Kevin Odegard, Marc Percansky, and to Park TV, for recording these wonderful concerts.  They were always the highlight of my summers.

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2018

ABOUT THOSE CREDITS…

Kevin:

My 2004 book about those long-ago sessions had set the stage to ignite a campaign to correct the historical record, a campaign which would see the names of all six uncredited Minnesota musicians who had played on the now-classic Bob Dylan album, considered by some to be a masterpiece. It took a full decade for this to happen, and happen it did on November 2, 2018, with the release of “More Blood, More Tracks” on Columbia Legacy Records.

What Kevin doesn’t say is that there were some false starts, where journalists butchered their names or messed up other details.  In addition, “More Blood, More Tracks” comes in three formats, and only one includes the Minnesota Musicians’ names.  You must buy the six-CD set, which runs at a little over $100 (down from the original $165) in order to find their names, which are on page 56.  Just a list, no explanation of why they weren’t there before.  But such a thing does exist, no doubt due to Kevin’s persistence.

 

 

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THE METSA INTERVIEWS

On the occasion of the release of the box set, Paul Metsa conducted four interviews with members of the band on his Tower of Power TV show.  These episodes are available on YouTube:

Part 1           Part 2          Part 3        Part 4

 

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2021

Two of the original Minneapolis Blood on the Tracks studio musicians passed away in 2021.

Chris Weber died on January 27, 2021, in Concord, California, of complications of COPD at the age of 73.

Peter Ostroushko died on February 24, 2021, in Minneapolis, of heart failure. He had had a debilitating stroke at the beginning of 2018.

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BOB DYLAN’S 80TH BIRTHDAY BASH

On the evening of Bob Dylan’s 80th birthday, May 24, 2021, a celebration was held at First Avenue, similar to the concerts that had been held in St. Louis Park and Maple Grove.  A core band of Minnesota’s best musicians, dubbed the “St. Louis Park Wrecking Crew,” was assembled:  (All photos courtesy Jeff Taube, MidAmerica Talent)

 

 

 

 

 

Guest singer/performers included:

• Dan Israel
• Curtiss A
• Demitri Rallis and Joe Dunn
• Terry Walsh
• Courtney Yasmineh
• Lynhal Jackson
• Mary Bue
• Gini Dodds
• Becky Kappel

A highlight of the show was when Billy Peterson joined the band while Gregg Inhofer sang and played “Tangled Up In Blue.”  Billy was the original bass player on the Minneapolis sides of “Blood on the Tracks.”  Gregg played during the entire night, just as he was the only one of the musicians to play (piano and organ) on all of the five songs on “Blood on the Tracks.”

 

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Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, only about 50 audience members could be in-house, but tickets were sold so that the show could be livestreamed around the world.  Viewers provided feedback from Australia, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Canada and Mexico, reported Jeff Taube.  In this reviewer’s opinion, the camera work, lighting, sound, pacing, and professionalism were excellent!