Lot of (3) American Folk-Blues Vintage German Tour-Blank Concert Posters by Gunther Kieser. ...

Description

Lot of (3) American Folk-Blues Vintage German Tour-Blank Concert Posters by Gunther Kieser. Three original unused paper concert posters from German promoter Lippmann & Rau for the American Folk-Blues tours that were so popular back in the day. These three posters are from 1967, 1968 and 1970. Designed by the legendary Gunther Kieser, they all followed a similar format of presenting all the information on a stylized acoustic guitar, looking very snazzy in the process.

Among the legendary blues musicians featured are Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, T-Bone Walker, Skip James, Son House, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Little Walter, Bukka White, Hound Dog Taylor, Koko Taylor and Champion Jack Dupree. In other words, very top-heavy in talent!

These were 'blanks' of sorts in that day-to-day concert information would later be printed into the various white spaces surrounding the guitar on each poster. Some collectors prefer this uncluttered look, however, without a bunch of German words on them.

Another interesting fact: Notice that "Negro" became part of the title on the 1970 tour. But even that wasn't the final title. Niels Hansen of WearyTune.com in Denmark tells us that its final name became "American Blues & Gospel Festival" after the Robert Patterson Singers were added to the list of performers.

All three posters measure about 23 1/2" x 33 1/4" and grade to an average of Very Good condition from toning and very light horizontal 'accordion creases' from being once rolled in storage. The '68 and '70 posters are otherwise clean, whereas the '67 poster has tack holes in the corners, a piece of masking tape on the left edge sticking out a little from the verso, and a light brown stain in the white down from "'67."

From the Archives of Charlie Rothschild. COA from Heritage Auctions.

Charlie Rothschild is a music manager with a career that spanned decades. In his early career, Charlie booked musical acts at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village, most notably Bob Dylan in September 1961, Dylan's first paid gig in New York City. He went on to work for renowned manager Albert Grossman (Dylan, Peter, Paul & Mary, Janis Joplin). As a manager, touring manager and concert promoter himself, Charlie worked alongside folk and rock 'n' roll greats Bob Dylan, the Velvet Underground, Gordon Lightfoot, Judy Collins, Peter, Paul & Mary, Allen Ginsberg, Ian & Sylvia, The Clancy Brothers, Odetta, The Fugs and Pearls Before Swine, among others. Charlie also ran the storied 1960's New York City music venue Balloon Farm, before going out on his own in 1972.

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