Blood, Sweat & Tears bring their signature jazz-rock sound to Potter Center

September 29, 2023

Experience the magic of music with Blood, Sweat & Tears! Get ready to be transported to a world where jazz meets rock, sophistication meets energy, and musical skill meets universal appeal. Blood, Sweat & Tears is bringing their unique fusion to the Potter Center stage for one show only, Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

Blood, Sweat & Tears is a Canadian-American jazz-rock music group formed in 1967 in New York City. The idea was to have a rock band that could combine the sophistication and musical skill level of jazz music with the energy and universal appeal of rock vocal music. It became identified as a jazz-rock group with an easy-listening jazz, blues and rock sound with the addition of brass.

After a lackluster debut album, “Child Is Father to the Man,” members regroup to release the second album, “Blood, Sweat & Tears.” This went on to become the no. 1 album for seven weeks in 1969, sold over 3 million copies and spawned three gold singles: “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” “Spinning Wheel,” and “And When I Die,” each of which hit No. 2 on the charts.

BS&T were at the top of their game with growing popularity, a triumphal performance at Woodstock and the Grammy Award for “Album of the Year” in 1970 — beating out the Beatles’ “Abbey Road.” It went on to earn quadruple Platinum status with sales of well over 4 million units. Then, in 1970, they became the first American band to play behind the “Iron Curtain” – touring Poland, Romania and Yugoslavia. Given the political times, that tour sparked a fan backlash, and interest in the band began to wane. BS&T became regulars in Las Vegas and continued touring. A 2023 documentary chronicles the band’s experience.

Blood, Sweat & Tears has had many configurations over its 50-plus years of touring, but one thing for sure is that the music is timeless. Over the years, more than 175 musicians have flowed through the ranks of the various iterations of the BS&T. Many have gone on to fame as players, producers, arrangers and solo performers.

Don’t miss the jazz-rock legends Blood, Sweat & Tears. Tickets start at just $30 and may be purchased by visiting the Potter Center website, or by calling the Potter Center Box Office, 517.796.8600.