Alan Gerber come home to Skokie

Singer, songwriter and musician Alan Gerber is “Coming Home.” The former Skokie resident brings his live concert tour to Skokie Theater on Saturday, March 19 at 8:00pm, Gerber is now a resident of Val-David, Quebec, but has fond memories of his time in Skokie. He graduated from Niles East H.S. and went on to study music at Roosevelt University. “Chicago and Skokie were where I developed my love for music and my Midwestern work ethic. It will be great to be home,” Gerber said.

Gerber has an extensive musical resume that includes working with Bob Dylan, Leon Russell and the Doors’ legendary producer Paul Rothchild. In 1967. Rothchild formed the the ground-breaking rock band Rinoceros and selected Gerber to provide keyboard and vocals for the group. Gerber was a regular performer at Byfield’s nightclub in the Ambassador East Hotel in the 1980’s before re-locating to Canada.

He has spent much of the past 25 years touring in Canada and throughout Europe, and has recently entered his most satisfying musical chapter yet, recruiting his son and daughter for his latest project The Grand and the Small. Family and music are at the core of Gerber’s life and blending the two on his new album is especially gratifying. “We were playing for 15,000 people at the Montreal Jazz Festival and people were going nuts,” he said.

Whether he’s performing with his children and a full band, or as a solo artist, Gerber is a riveting live performer who has developed a reputation for holding an audience in the palm of his hand. His appearances and recordings reflect his wide music range from R&B, rock and jazz and showcase him playing a variety of musical instruments including piano, guitar, slide guitar, accordion and violin. Audiences have cheered in venues as diverse as small-town clubs to the Montreal Jazz Festival.

Gerber has won a devoted legion of fans drawn to his cleverly crafted lyrics and engaging live performances. “I’m really into the physicality of music, of rock ‘n roll and R&B,” Gerber says, “but I’m also really into poetry and intelligent lyrics, talking about something that is important to me and hopefully other people. My songs are stories about life.”

Ron Scott, a venue owner in Matitoba said, "This man, Alan Gerber, cooked!! Basic recipe...start with generous portions of John Hiatt, Taj Mahal and Doctor John. Next, stir in a tantalizing blend of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waitts. Now a key ingredient...fold in huge dollops of Otis Spann southside Chicago piano. Spice it up with a few generous cups of Duane Allman/Ry Cooder bottle-neck guitar on a vintage Fender Stratocaster. This is sounding mighty tasty, but not finished yet! Add more flavour with some old-time fiddle - and several big pinches of blues fiddle too! (Shake - don't stir.) Finally, make it all rise with some Victor Borge and Harpo Marx!!! There are a bunch of people walking around our town today with their hair still messed up...a kind of euphoric shell-shock! Electric, eclectic, exquisite - last night's show was one wild whitewater trip! Every bend brought another splash in the face! Exhilarating!! How could this boat not flip over at these speeds in such big waves?! In the end he brought us through safely...all sunburned, soaking wet and grinning ear to ear!! (Can we go again!?!) Thanks for sending such a great performer our way!!"

Alan Gerber: Coming Home will be presented at Skokie Theatre on Saturday, March 19 at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at SkokieTheatre.org, or by calling the box office at 847-677-7761.