阿洛伊斯·科赫 Alois Koch

Al Cook (born Alois Koch) grew up in Vienna, Austria. The visit of the Elvis movie Gold from a hot throat at the age of fifteen awoke in him the desire to make music. He started teaching himself guitar, piano and singing. After first encountering the blues, Al Cook learned instrumental and vocal techniques from historic blues musicians. His idols included vocalists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Charley Patton, Son House, Texas Alexander and Robert Johnson. At the beginning of the 70s, Al Cook achieved such a reputation that he was part of the Austrian popular culture until the middle of the decade. At this time he performed in Vienna's Jazzland with blues musicians like Roosevelt Sykes, Johnny Shines, John Jackson, Honeyboy Edwards and Little Brother Montgomery.Al Cook influenced many musicians and was partly also an artistic impulse for some of the leading domestic blues musicians like Erik Trauner, Siggi Fassl, Stephan Rausch and Michael Pewny as well as many Austrian scene musicians. From 1983 to 1986, Al Cook used the then Rockabilly Revival to span the arc from blues to rock 'n' roll, giving his popularity an extra boost. In 1989, he finally turned his back on rock 'n' roll to devote all his artistic power to country blues. As an important part of his artistic mission, Al Cook sees his commitment against the growing influence of pop culture on the blues. On November 15, 2014, Al Cook celebrated his 50th anniversary at the Metropol. Al's autobiography book "Kein Platz für Johnny B. Goode: Blues als Rebellion gegen den Zeitgeist" released in 2016. In 2019 released the album "Take It Off Slowly - Dana Gillespie Meets Al Cook and His Original Al Cook Band".