(Pronounced 'Sim-zik')

When you're young and from a small farm town, your association with anything that resembles
greatness, importance or just odd are key to building Rural Credibility.

Muskegon - (Musky Gone) or, poor fishing, lies on the southeast side of Lake Michigan. About a 3 and a 1/2 hour drive around the south end of The Big Lake from Chicago was, at one time, a major industrial port city. But during the 60s and 70s, when manufacturing headed elsewhere, so did the jobs. But the bars were still standing as were some of the unemployed patrons. (Muskegon's always been a tuff gig for an out-of-towner musician, if it wasn't your buddy from the papermill flogging away on Slow Ride, you weren't squat.)

At about this same time, there was thiz guy, from Muskegon, who was putting his own stamp on American music.
Begining with the Navy as a sonar operator, Bill Szymczyk's developed ear led to work at New York's Regent Sound Studios and the Hit Factory as an engineer. But it was his engineering and production work with BB King in the late 60s that provided him with the opportunity to sign and produce his own acts for the ABC label.
One of the first being The James Gang with Joe Walsh. Then came Walsh's solo records, work with The J Geils Band, Rick Derringer and ultimatly The Eagles' cash cow: On The Border, One Of These Nights, Hotel California and The Long Run.
AND, Bob Seger, The Who and our Verve Pipe.
He done good, hunh?
CREDITS:
soundonsound.com
tuffrock.blogspot.com