013: STEVE KATZ/singer-songwriter/Blood, Sweat, & Tears

Growing up in the '70's, Blood, Sweat, & Tears was definitely on heavy rotation in our house. "Spinning Wheel," "What Goes Up," "Sometimes in Winter"; these tunes are etched in my memory. I can't even tell you how many times my mom sang verse after verse of "God Bless the Child" to both my sister and I. The fusion of Jazz, Rock, and a horn section may not seem like that big a deal today, but back in the late '60's it was certainly a novel idea, and the legacy that Blood, Sweat, & Tears have left in their wake is nothing short of phenomenal. Steve Katz was at the center of it all. Not only was he a founding member of the Blues Project, he studied guitar with none other than Dave Van Ronk and the Rev. Gary Davis. He crossed paths with Bob Dylan, produced seminal albums for Lou Reed, and his love affairs are too numerous to mention. His amazing journey is all chronicled in his current book; BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS, MY ROCK 'N ROLL YEARS, IS STEVE KATZ A ROCK STAR? I sat with Steve on the porch of his home in Kent, CT., where he shared his tale of love, heartbreak, and redemption in a career that spans over 50 years.