Thu March 3, 2016
A Very Buzzy Birthday featuring Buzzy Linhart, Muruga Booker, Drew Zingg, Liam Hanrahan, Will Scarlett plus DJ K-Os
SEE EVENT DETAILS
at Ashkenaz
(see times)
Tickets: $10-$20 sliding scale
Birthdays should be celebrated early and often, or at least early. This all-ages musical blowout, “A Very Buzzy Birthday,” is a 73rd birthday party and benefit for Buzzy Linhart, to help get him back on the stage. Before Linhart and his all-star band the Big Few take our stage, DJ K-Os will spin and mix Linhart’s classic vinyl recordings starting at 7 pm, followed by a hootenanny at 7:30 with a song swap, stories, and jokes.
Beloved by those in the know, and unfortunately unknown to everyone else, Buzzy Linhart is a singer-songwriter-vibraphonist-actor and activist whose songs and instrumental playing everyone has heard, even if they don’t know his name. Bette Midler’s theme song, “(You’ve Got to Have) Friends,” which Linhart co-wrote, is ubiquitous. Linhart’s playing on others’ recordings is voluminous. And he was an early supporter of Ashkenaz and its founder David Nadel. But Linhart has rarely performed in the past few decades, disabled by a car accident, suffering injuries and PTSD. Although he has lived in Berkeley since 1988 thanks to his old friend Wavy Gravy, his health has not allowed him to continue the prolific recording and touring he was known for beginning in 1963 with his ground-breaking raga-folk-blues-rock band the Seventh Sons through his national tour with Beatlefest in 1983.
Tonight Linhart is joined by his rotating band of the last 20 years known informally as “The Big Few.” This time around the band consists of Linhart on vocals and MIDI-vibes, drummer-percussionist Muruga Booker (of P-Funk, John Lee Hooker, Babatunde Olatunji), guitarist Drew Zingg (Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan reunion tour, Phoebe Snow), bassist Liam Hanrahan (Zero, KVHW, Cowboy Jazz), and harmonica great Will Scarlett (Hot Tuna, David Bromberg, among many others). Special guests will join throughout the evening.
In the 1960s Buzzy Linhart was seemingly everywhere in music, not only as a solo artist but also as an in-demand musician with others, playing vibes, piano, guitar and drums, with Jimi Hendrix, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, CSNY, LaBelle, Carly Simon, and many more. He may be best known for co-writing “(You’ve Got to Have) Friends,” which launched Midler into the spotlight and the opening lines of which were delivered by Eddie Murphy’s Donkey character in “Shrek” and featured in several other soundtracks. His music has been featured in musicals and other films, such as “Here Come the Videofreex,” which chronicles the first group of “citizen journalists” who paved the way for community-based public television broadcast. The film will screen next at CineQuest in San Jose March 8-10. The closing credits roll to his song “Peace in the Country” from the 2015 album by the same name.
Linhart has long been an advocate for peace, human rights, and equality, performing for free at many events including the National Special Olympics, benefits for the homeless, feeding the hungry, Pacifica Radio, Musicians for Medical Marijuana, and early Ashkenaz fundraisers. He has been the subject of a documentary (“Famous: The Buzzy Linhart Story”) and interviewed for a number of books on Jimi Hendrix and other notable musicians he has worked with.
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Birthdays should be celebrated early and often, or at least early. This all-ages musical blowout, “A Very Buzzy Birthday,” is a 73rd birthday party and benefit for Buzzy Linhart, to help get him back on the stage. Before Linhart and his all-star band the Big Few take our stage, DJ K-Os will spin and mix Linhart’s classic vinyl recordings starting at 7 pm, followed by a hootenanny at 7:30 with a song swap, stories, and jokes.
Beloved by those in the know, and unfortunately unknown to everyone else, Buzzy Linhart is a singer-songwriter-vibraphonist-actor and activist whose songs and instrumental playing everyone has heard, even if they don’t know his name. Bette Midler’s theme song, “(You’ve Got to Have) Friends,” which Linhart co-wrote, is ubiquitous. Linhart’s playing on others’ recordings is voluminous. And he was an early supporter of Ashkenaz and its founder David Nadel. But Linhart has rarely performed in the past few decades, disabled by a car accident, suffering injuries and PTSD. Although he has lived in Berkeley since 1988 thanks to his old friend Wavy Gravy, his health has not allowed him to continue the prolific recording and touring he was known for beginning in 1963 with his ground-breaking raga-folk-blues-rock band the Seventh Sons through his national tour with Beatlefest in 1983.
Tonight Linhart is joined by his rotating band of the last 20 years known informally as “The Big Few.” This time around the band consists of Linhart on vocals and MIDI-vibes, drummer-percussionist Muruga Booker (of P-Funk, John Lee Hooker, Babatunde Olatunji), guitarist Drew Zingg (Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan reunion tour, Phoebe Snow), bassist Liam Hanrahan (Zero, KVHW, Cowboy Jazz), and harmonica great Will Scarlett (Hot Tuna, David Bromberg, among many others). Special guests will join throughout the evening.
In the 1960s Buzzy Linhart was seemingly everywhere in music, not only as a solo artist but also as an in-demand musician with others, playing vibes, piano, guitar and drums, with Jimi Hendrix, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, CSNY, LaBelle, Carly Simon, and many more. He may be best known for co-writing “(You’ve Got to Have) Friends,” which launched Midler into the spotlight and the opening lines of which were delivered by Eddie Murphy’s Donkey character in “Shrek” and featured in several other soundtracks. His music has been featured in musicals and other films, such as “Here Come the Videofreex,” which chronicles the first group of “citizen journalists” who paved the way for community-based public television broadcast. The film will screen next at CineQuest in San Jose March 8-10. The closing credits roll to his song “Peace in the Country” from the 2015 album by the same name.
Linhart has long been an advocate for peace, human rights, and equality, performing for free at many events including the National Special Olympics, benefits for the homeless, feeding the hungry, Pacifica Radio, Musicians for Medical Marijuana, and early Ashkenaz fundraisers. He has been the subject of a documentary (“Famous: The Buzzy Linhart Story”) and interviewed for a number of books on Jimi Hendrix and other notable musicians he has worked with.
Tickets: $10-$20 sliding scale
Birthdays should be celebrated early and often, or at least early. This all-ages musical blowout, “A Very Buzzy Birthday,” is a 73rd birthday party and benefit for Buzzy Linhart, to help get him back on the stage. Before Linhart and his all-star band the Big Few take our stage, DJ K-Os will spin and mix Linhart’s classic vinyl recordings starting at 7 pm, followed by a hootenanny at 7:30 with a song swap, stories, and jokes.
Beloved by those in the know, and unfortunately unknown to everyone else, Buzzy Linhart is a singer-songwriter-vibraphonist-actor and activist whose songs and instrumental playing everyone has heard, even if they don’t know his name. Bette Midler’s theme song, “(You’ve Got to Have) Friends,” which Linhart co-wrote, is ubiquitous. Linhart’s playing on others’ recordings is voluminous. And he was an early supporter of Ashkenaz and its founder David Nadel. But Linhart has rarely performed in the past few decades, disabled by a car accident, suffering injuries and PTSD. Although he has lived in Berkeley since 1988 thanks to his old friend Wavy Gravy, his health has not allowed him to continue the prolific recording and touring he was known for beginning in 1963 with his ground-breaking raga-folk-blues-rock band the Seventh Sons through his national tour with Beatlefest in 1983.
Tonight Linhart is joined by his rotating band of the last 20 years known informally as “The Big Few.” This time around the band consists of Linhart on vocals and MIDI-vibes, drummer-percussionist Muruga Booker (of P-Funk, John Lee Hooker, Babatunde Olatunji), guitarist Drew Zingg (Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan reunion tour, Phoebe Snow), bassist Liam Hanrahan (Zero, KVHW, Cowboy Jazz), and harmonica great Will Scarlett (Hot Tuna, David Bromberg, among many others). Special guests will join throughout the evening.
In the 1960s Buzzy Linhart was seemingly everywhere in music, not only as a solo artist but also as an in-demand musician with others, playing vibes, piano, guitar and drums, with Jimi Hendrix, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, CSNY, LaBelle, Carly Simon, and many more. He may be best known for co-writing “(You’ve Got to Have) Friends,” which launched Midler into the spotlight and the opening lines of which were delivered by Eddie Murphy’s Donkey character in “Shrek” and featured in several other soundtracks. His music has been featured in musicals and other films, such as “Here Come the Videofreex,” which chronicles the first group of “citizen journalists” who paved the way for community-based public television broadcast. The film will screen next at CineQuest in San Jose March 8-10. The closing credits roll to his song “Peace in the Country” from the 2015 album by the same name.
Linhart has long been an advocate for peace, human rights, and equality, performing for free at many events including the National Special Olympics, benefits for the homeless, feeding the hungry, Pacifica Radio, Musicians for Medical Marijuana, and early Ashkenaz fundraisers. He has been the subject of a documentary (“Famous: The Buzzy Linhart Story”) and interviewed for a number of books on Jimi Hendrix and other notable musicians he has worked with.
read more
Birthdays should be celebrated early and often, or at least early. This all-ages musical blowout, “A Very Buzzy Birthday,” is a 73rd birthday party and benefit for Buzzy Linhart, to help get him back on the stage. Before Linhart and his all-star band the Big Few take our stage, DJ K-Os will spin and mix Linhart’s classic vinyl recordings starting at 7 pm, followed by a hootenanny at 7:30 with a song swap, stories, and jokes.
Beloved by those in the know, and unfortunately unknown to everyone else, Buzzy Linhart is a singer-songwriter-vibraphonist-actor and activist whose songs and instrumental playing everyone has heard, even if they don’t know his name. Bette Midler’s theme song, “(You’ve Got to Have) Friends,” which Linhart co-wrote, is ubiquitous. Linhart’s playing on others’ recordings is voluminous. And he was an early supporter of Ashkenaz and its founder David Nadel. But Linhart has rarely performed in the past few decades, disabled by a car accident, suffering injuries and PTSD. Although he has lived in Berkeley since 1988 thanks to his old friend Wavy Gravy, his health has not allowed him to continue the prolific recording and touring he was known for beginning in 1963 with his ground-breaking raga-folk-blues-rock band the Seventh Sons through his national tour with Beatlefest in 1983.
Tonight Linhart is joined by his rotating band of the last 20 years known informally as “The Big Few.” This time around the band consists of Linhart on vocals and MIDI-vibes, drummer-percussionist Muruga Booker (of P-Funk, John Lee Hooker, Babatunde Olatunji), guitarist Drew Zingg (Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan reunion tour, Phoebe Snow), bassist Liam Hanrahan (Zero, KVHW, Cowboy Jazz), and harmonica great Will Scarlett (Hot Tuna, David Bromberg, among many others). Special guests will join throughout the evening.
In the 1960s Buzzy Linhart was seemingly everywhere in music, not only as a solo artist but also as an in-demand musician with others, playing vibes, piano, guitar and drums, with Jimi Hendrix, John Sebastian, Richie Havens, CSNY, LaBelle, Carly Simon, and many more. He may be best known for co-writing “(You’ve Got to Have) Friends,” which launched Midler into the spotlight and the opening lines of which were delivered by Eddie Murphy’s Donkey character in “Shrek” and featured in several other soundtracks. His music has been featured in musicals and other films, such as “Here Come the Videofreex,” which chronicles the first group of “citizen journalists” who paved the way for community-based public television broadcast. The film will screen next at CineQuest in San Jose March 8-10. The closing credits roll to his song “Peace in the Country” from the 2015 album by the same name.
Linhart has long been an advocate for peace, human rights, and equality, performing for free at many events including the National Special Olympics, benefits for the homeless, feeding the hungry, Pacifica Radio, Musicians for Medical Marijuana, and early Ashkenaz fundraisers. He has been the subject of a documentary (“Famous: The Buzzy Linhart Story”) and interviewed for a number of books on Jimi Hendrix and other notable musicians he has worked with.
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Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702
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