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Artist
Paul Kossoff
12+ albums
blues rockrockbluesclassic rockguitar virtuoso
about
Paul Francis Kossoff (September 14, 1950, in Hampstead, North West London, England–March 19, 1976) was a rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Free. Kossoff—son of the noted British actor David Kossoff—started playing in the mid 1960s and his first professional gig was with Black Cat Bones alongside drummer Simon Kirke. The band did many supporting shows for Fleetwood Mac and both Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac's guitarist) and Kossoff would jam and spend hours discussing blues playing and players. Black Cat Bones also played with touring blues piano player Champion Jack Dupree. Both Kossoff and Kirke would go on to play on the Dupree album When You Feel the Feeling.... Free In April 1968 the pair teamed up with Paul Rodgers (vocals) and Andy Fraser (bass) to form Free. They did the "Transit" circuit for two years and recorded two albums: Tons Of Sobs(1968) and Free(1969). Both albums showcased the band's blues and soul influenced sound, a style which was in contrast to some of their progressive and heavier counterparts at the time. Success came in 1970 when their third album, Fire and Water(1970), spawned the massive hit "All Right Now". The band played the Isle of Wight festival to both audience and critical acclaim. Sellout tours in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Japan followed, but after the release of the next album, Highway(1970), band pressures led to a split. The live album 'Free Live, recorded in 1970, was released in 1971 as a farewell record. While Rod
