1971 · San Francisco
by Singer, David [Artist]
San Francisco: Tea Lautrec Litho, 1971. Near Fine. All 66 handbills constituting a complete set of those created by Singer for 'Bill Graham Presents In San Francisco'. These match the full-size posters by Singer for the respective concerts. The reverse of these is a combination of a calendar schedule of future performances going out a few days or the entire month, locations, calls for auditions, and mentions of basketball games. The largest 5 handbills are 9 1/4 " x 7" and the remaining 61 handbills are 7 1/4" x 4 5/8". All are oringinal, first printings, all are from Singer's personal archives, and the fashion designer, Peter Golding's collection of rock and roll (auctioned, 2009). Complete collections are of substantial rarity. Most with some soiling and tape remainders to the reverse, else near fine. In the late 60s-early 70s, Bill Graham was one of the preeminent concert promoters with his Filmore East and West locations. His shows regularly included some biggest names in rock and the counter-culture movement. Graham attracted both established names and newly formed—but now famous—groups to take part in his legendary productions. The height of this era produced some of the most famous and lasting images of psychedelic art, which was predominantly linked to promotional concert handbills and posters. After a few years of awe inspiring but often illegible concert art, Graham decided to hire David Singer in May 1969. Singer represented a transition away from the psychedelic to something more geometric and refined. The images he created for Graham are by-in-large collages with a unique and appropriately thematic, but legible font often around the border of the art, rather than within the art itself. This gave Graham a flexibility to make changes to performers at the last minute before printing and made for more practical promotional material. Singer proceeded to create 66 posters for Graham over the next two years (more than any other artist), and his career as a Rock poster artist continued after his run with Graham ended. Some of the musicians mentioned as performers on these handbills are: BB King, Santana, Eric Burton and War, Chicago, The Who, Steve Miller Band, Ike and Tina Turner, James Taylor, Elton John, Everly Brothers, Boz Scaggs, Aretha Franklin, Grateful; Dead, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Frank Zappa, The Kinks, Rod Stewart, Taj Mahal, Traffic, Albert King, Allman Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone, Jethro Tull, Johnny Winter, The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, and dozens more.
(Inventory #: 1105)
