If Bill Graham were alive, what would he be doing?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/26/DDRG1KRBHQ.DTLSaturday, August 27, 2011
Friends, fans and former colleagues gathered at the Lush Life Gallery at the Jazz Heritage Center for a reception celebrating "Presenting: Bill Graham," an exhibition documenting the life and times of San Francisco's famed rock 'n' roll impresario that closed Wednesday. The event, hosted by City Arts & Lectures, and the show, which was curated by the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation, detail Graham's life from his escape from Nazi Germany to New York City and the Bay Area. Among the posters, artwork and photographs were baskets of apples - a tribute to Graham's childhood pastime when he was an orphan. He often sneaked out to the orchard behind the orphanage to bring back apples for the other kids, a charitable tradition that continues at many of the shows at the Fillmore to this day.
- Sarah Adler
Bonnie Simmons, 62
Profession: Executive director of the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation and transport "czarina" for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Neighborhood: Oakland
Favorite Fillmore experience?
It must have been the Aretha Franklin show at the Fillmore when Ray Charles also performed. The year was 1971. I am a huge fan of R&B music, and it was beyond spectacular.
Any Bill Graham show that you regret having missed?
I was there for a lot of them, but I never got to see Otis Redding perform live at the Monterey Pop Festival. It's one of my regrets.
If Bill Graham were alive today, what would he be presenting?
In working on this exhibit, one of the things that really struck me was his incredible philanthropy. Whenever a disaster came, he was the first person to pick up the phone and respond with a benefit. With all that's gone on over the past few years (New Orleans, Haiti and Japan), I can see him dedicated to helping out on a really large scale.
David Gans, 57
Profession: Musician and radio producer ("Dead to the World," "Grateful Dead Hour")
Neighborhood: Lake Merritt
Favorite Fillmore experience?
I headlined a sold-out benefit concert at the Fillmore on Jan. 31, 1998, with my band the Broken Angels, and Phil Lesh and Vince Welnick of the Grateful Dead were special musical guests. It was a benefit for the Unbroken Chain Foundation. It was both a professional and personal highlight for me.
Any Bill Graham show that you regret having missed?
Bruce Springsteen December 1978 at Winterland. I also missed out on seeing the Rolling Stones in 1972.
If Bill Graham were alive today, what would he be presenting?
I think he would have held off the progression of commercial crassness in the music business for a few more years. He's been gone now for 20 years and he would have been forced to capitulate - but Bill always stood his ground and fought for the audience, the artist and the muse harder than anyone else in the history of this business.
Arlene Owseichik, no age given
Profession: Designer and former art director for Bill Graham Presents from 1985 to 2004
Neighborhood: Berkeley
Favorite Fillmore experience?
My favorite Fillmore experience is my involvement with all the posters that the Fillmore has produced since 1986. To date, the Fillmore poster series is at 1,051 and I have been involved with all of them.
Any Bill Graham show that you regret having missed?
I missed Jimi Hendrix at the Fillmore East that New Year's Eve (1969-70) when I was in Massachusetts going to college. I decided I didn't quite have the gumption to go to New York for Hendrix at New Year's.
If Bill Graham were alive today, what would he be presenting?
Part of me would like to think that he would be living a great retirement. Deep inside, though, I know that he would still be doing shows at the Fillmore and it would please him to no end.
Kitsaun King, 62
Profession: Retired, but I spent the last 25 years working for Carlos Santana
Neighborhood: Ingleside
Favorite Fillmore experience?
The 2008 two-night run of Santana at the Fillmore. Those shows were beyond the beyond.
Any Bill Graham show that you regret having missed?
The Aretha show with Ray Charles because it was such a seminal moment in music and that concert represented what Bill brought to the music scene - this mixing and matching; he just cooked a beautiful stew.
If Bill Graham were alive today, what would he be presenting?
He would be presenting what is current today because Bill always stayed current. He was always looking for the oddball thing to do or the unusual thing to promote - something unexpected from the rock impresario (like when he produced Jackie Mason here).
Judson Coplan, 32
Profession: I work in product marketing for video software
Neighborhood: Castro
Favorite Fillmore experience?
Seeing Cat Power. She had the most amazing voice that haunted the arena. Everyone was in rapt attention; the personality of her singing was really powerful.
Any Bill Graham show that you regret having missed?
I really wish I had attended the 1980-81 New Year's Eve show in Oakland. I heard that it was a party unlike any other and that the number of balloons in the Oakland Auditorium Arena was mind-blowing and unprecedented.
If Bill Graham were alive today, what would he be presenting?
I think he would be doing really creative installation art around San Francisco and he would still be a great philanthropist.
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