Biography
Nick Gravenites grew up on the southside of Chicago hanging out in the mid-50's with a coterie of misfit white kids - Elvin Bishop, Paul Butterfield, Michael Bloomfield - who went on to form that protean powerhouse of watershed white blues, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. In addition to authoring the classic "Born In Chicago" and "East West" for Butterfield, Gravenites scribed hits for Janis Joplin, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Michael Bloomfield, Electric Flag, Pure Prairie League, Tracy Nelson, Roy Buchanan, Jimmy Witherspoon, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, and James Cotton. He has appeared on some 40 albums as singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer.
Born in Berkeley, California on August 24, 1943, John Cipollina represents the archetypal San Francisco 1965-1975 musician.
As a founding member of Quicksilver Messenger Service, John went on to perform and record with dozens of bands , blazing a trail from rock to blues to jazz over a brilliant twenty-five year career.
John Cipollina's guitar sounded like no other. His unique resonance touched people in places they didn't know existed. His signature sound will stand alone for all time as a part of the musical thread the San Francisco Bay Area has wrapped around the world.
John passed away from a lifelong respiratory ailment on May 29, 1989. He left behind a great musical contribution for his worldwide audience to enjoy. For those who knew him,or listened to his music, we share the memory of a truly wonderful person, whose being so perfectly reflected the magic in his music.
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