Steve Katz studied guitar with Dave Van Ronk and Reverend Gary Davis. There were many other young musicians around Greenwich Village during this time who were as obsessed with American roots music as Steve. Many would look for a common ground in which to play music together and they found the common ground in “jug band” music. Steve and some friends formed the Even Dozen Jug Band and were courted by Elektra Records for whom they recorded an album in 1964. In 1965, Steve joined The Blues Project. They recorded three albums while together in their first incarnation.

After the demise of the Blues Project, Steve and a few friends put together Blood, Sweat & Tears. Their second album is still a classic, almost 40 years after it was recorded. The group won three Grammies and sold millions of records worldwide. In 1972, Steve began a relationship with Lou Reed that culminated in his producing two of Lou’s albums, both of which went into Billboard’s top ten. After a short stint in the group American Flyer, Steve went on to become Vice President of A&R at Mercury Records where he produced three albums by the seminal Irish band Horslips and then became Managing Director of Green Linnet Records.

He then married his one true love, Alison Palmer, a ceramic artist. As time passed, Alison’s craft achieved popularity and recognition. Alison and Steve soon found that they had a thriving small business. Steve is now doing photography professionally, but sometimes plays music at reunions or with friends.

Alison and Steve live in Kent, Connecticut with their wood fire kiln, three dogs, their African Grey Parrots, Tutu & KuKu, and their very exceptional guinea pig, Sid.

 

Alison Palmer was born and raised in New York. After graduating high school she attended Kansas City Art Institute as well as the California College of Arts and Crafts where she received her BFA in ceramics.

Alison then returned to New York where she implemented a “treatment through crafts” program at Four Winds Psychiatric Hospital in Katonah. While teaching at Four Winds, Alison began her own studio at a converted old schoolhouse in Croton Falls, New York. She met and married musician Steve Katz. Together they created a company called Ashes to Ashes which produced funerary urns for animals. The urns were to be designed and handmade by Alison while Steve did the sales and marketing. The pressures of dealing with grieving clients, however, were too much for the couple and so they concentrated solely on Alison’s handcrafted ideas.

By 1986, Alison was exhibiting her work at a few of the finer craft galleries in New York City and elsewhere. The recognition her work received at the major wholesale shows was overwhelming and Alison and Steve had to cope with the challenge of learning the “business” of crafts while at the same time exploring new areas of Alison’s creativity. Today, Alison Palmer can boast representation by over a thousand galleries, museum shops and catalogs in America and abroad.