Al Kooper

Al Kooper (born February 5, 1944, Brooklyn, New York) is an American songwriter and musician, probably best known for organizing the group Blood, Sweat & Tears.

His first musical success was as a 14-year-old guitarist

Al Kooper (born February 5, 1944, Brooklyn, New York) is an American songwriter and musician, probably best known for organizing the group Blood, Sweat & Tears.

His first musical success was as a 14-year-old guitarist in the Royal Teens, best known for their novelty blues riff, "Short Shorts". In 1960, he joined the song-writing team of Bob Brass and Irwin Levine, who wrote the hit, "This Diamond Ring", for Gary Lewis and the Playboys. When he was 21, he moved to Greenwich Village.