Just what is an "Al Gitar"? Sometimes referred to by fellow Chicago musicians as “the love child of Johnny Guitar Watson” (actually his fourth cousin) for his unabashed admiration of the pioneering blues/funk icon, as evidenced by Al's constant donning of a Superman “S” logo in some form or another, Al Gitar was born Alvin Short in Vicksburg, Mississippi. His family moved north to Chicago, IL, in 1959, and settled in the Hyde Park neighborhood. At an early age, Al began playing drums for various gospel choirs on Chicago’s south side. In particular, he began to get attention by drumming for the Reverend Edmond Blair and the Omega Baptist Church Choir, along with his adopted brother, Edmond Blair, Jr. They, along with Marvin Yancy, began working with Jessy Dixon, Milton Brunson, and the Thompson Community Singers in the mid-1960’s. This experience led to Al playing even larger venues, both in and outside of Chicago. This included the original Regal Theater, where, under the name of Alvin Twist, he formed an R&B/soul outfit called the Rotations, Club Delisa, and Carnegie Hall in New York. It wasn’t long before Al’s blossoming virtuosity as a multifaceted guitarist gained the attention of several highly established, as well as up-and-coming musicians of the era. He performed behind Ike and Tina Turner (1968), hung out with and jammed with another Johnny Guitar Watson disciple, Steve Miller, onstage and at Steve’s house out in Stinson Beach, CA (1969), and played with a rock and soul outfit, Lock and Chain (1972), which featured a dynamic female vocalist and fellow Hyde Parker, Yvette Marie Stevens, better known as Chaka Khan. All of this led, in turn, to steady session work for various Chicago studios, including Chess, Brunswick, Universal, and Streeterville. As the 1970’s moved on, Al and Edmond Blair, Jr., formed a band called The Sounds of Soul that backed up many local vocalists and groups throughout Chicago. They also became backup players for artists such as Garland Green, Bobby Jones, Junior Wells, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, Artie “Blues Boy” White, Jean Carne, the Emotions, the Staple Singers, Bobby Rush, Howard Hewitt, Glenn Jones, the Alex Bradford Singers, Syl Johnson, Johnny Drummer, and a host of other greats. Having now worked with some of the finest in the business - both in and outside of Chicago, as well as his own various band incarnations (i.e., The Superman Band, The Intense City Band, etc.), here comes Al Gitar on his own. Cue it up and let the spirit groove ya! Besides the aforementioned artistes, plus Earl Hooker, Bill Withers, Pieces of a Dream (remember them - "Fo Fi Fo"? (www.piecesjazz.com)), as well as the late great Johnny "Guitar" Watson, take the best of each of them, roll 'em up, and you've got Al Gitar! Or if you want to find out more for yourself, come check out Al every Saturday night at Lee's Unleaded Blues Lounge, 7401 S. South Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL!