Happy 60th Birthday Steve Kimock

Today marks master guitarist Steve Kimock‘s 60th birthday as the Bethlehem native was born on this date in 1955. Kimock is an incredibly inventive guitarist with a signature sound that helped propel Zero to national notoriety in the ’80s and ’90s. Steve has performed with a bevy of projects, both his own and led by others, since Zero parted ways. Recently he had a long stint in Bob Weir and RatDog and has been leading a band that performs his own songs as well as tunes from the Jerry Garcia songbook. Tonight, the guitarist will take part in a sold out 60th birthday celebration at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley.

In honor of Mr. Kimock’s big day we’ve shared two videos which show the unbridled emotion he filters into both his own music and that of other artists. One of the most gorgeous originals that is part of the Kimock songbook is “Cole’s Law.” The beautiful instrumental is the the perfect platform to display just what Steve can do with a guitar. Check out The Steve Kimock Band’s version of “Cole’s Law” from the DVD release Steve Kimock Band: Live At The Gothic Theatre:

Steve Kimock has had plenty of practice playing songs of the Grateful Dead. At points in his career the guitarist has been a member of bands featuring nearly every member of the Dead including Keith & Donna’s Heart Of Gold Band, Bob Weir’s RatDog and Kingfish, Mickey and Billy’s Rhythm Devils, Phil’s friends and more. Kimock does well with many of the Dead songs he covers, but he takes “Stella Blue” to another level. Watch Steve’s gorgeous take on “Stella Blue” from July 20, 2002: