Guide to the David Singer Poster collection

Mathew E. Simpson

University of California, Santa Cruz

2011

1156 High Street

Santa Cruz 95064

speccoll@library.ucsc.edu

URL: http://guides.library.ucsc.edu/speccoll

Contributing Institution: University of California, Santa Cruz

Title: David Singer Poster collection

Creator: Singer, David, 1941-

Identifier/Call Number: MS.340

Physical Description: 3 Linear Feet 1 oversize flat

Date (inclusive): 1969-1971

Abstract: San Francisco rock concert posters produced by David Singer for promoter Bill Graham.

Language of Material: English

Access

Collection open for research. Advance notice is required for access.

Publication Rights

Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs. Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.

Preferred Citation

David Singer Poster Collection. MS 340. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Acquisition Information

Purchase.

Biography

David Singer was a prolific poster artist during the height of the psychedelic era in San Francisco, producing more posters for promoter Bill Graham than any other artist. According to the biography at Wolfgang's Vault, "Singer grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch country, where he was exposed to antiques and folk art. Another influence on his work was his childhood interest in geometric forms. Although Singer had little formal training in art, his polished presentation and prodigious output made him one of the most respected poster artists emerging from San Francisco in the 1960s. Initially uninterested in making posters, Singer assembled a portfolio of collages that he envisioned as 'greeting cards or something.' His work was rejected by most of the publishers in San Francisco but gained immediate interest from Bill Graham, the dance-concert promoter at the Fillmore Auditorium. During his Fillmore era, from 1969-1971, Singer created more posters for Graham than any other artist, most notably the double-size final poster evoking the Fillmore experience.

Even after the Fillmore closed in 1971, Singer continued to create posters commemorating special events sponsored by Graham. To a great extent, Singer was a transitional rock-poster artist; his works possessed a refinement and polish that would dominate the 1970s rock world. During that decade, he produced significant posters for the Rolling Stones, the Who and Santana. Singer's posters are notable for his use of collage, incorporating thousands of images clipped from magazines spanning several decades. He developed a format that included a stunning variety of lettering styles, applying them in close relation to the theme or subject of a poster."

Scope and Content of Collection

This series contains a complete signed set of David Singer's posters for rock promoter Bill Graham, as well as a number of unsigned duplicates and a couple gallery posters advertising a show of Singer's work. The signed set has been sorted chronologically as well as by the Bill Graham Production ("BG") number on the poster. Randy Tuten is credited with the design of BG-196, using a collage by Singer. Wilfred Satty is co-credited on posters BG-235, BG-244 and BG-271. Jim Marshall is credited for the photo used on BG-272.

The contents list gives the music groups and venues, with the dates referring to the earliest date of the concert run(s) advertised.

Arrangement

Posters have been arranged chronologically.

Processing Information

Processed by Mathew E. Simpson in 2011. EAD encoded finding aid by Mathew E. Simpson.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Printed ephemera

Posters, American -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area

Rock music -- Posters

box 1:BG-178

The Who, Woody Herman and his Orchestra, A.R.Skhy; Santana, The Impressions, Ike & Tina Turner, Blues Image at the Fillmore West June 17, 1969

box 1:BG-179

Iron Butterfly, Cold Blood, Sanpaku; Spirit, Lee Michaels, Pyewacke at the Fillmore West June 24, 1969

box 1:BG-180

Johnny Winter, Lonnie Mack, Rockin' Foo; Eric Burdon and His Band, It's A Beautiful Day, Cat Mother and the Allnight Newsboys at the Fillmore West July 1, 1969

box 1:BG-181

B.B.King, Aum, The Frost; Santana, Taj Mahal, Flamin' Groovies at the Fillmore West July 8, 1969

box 1:BG-182

B.B.King, Elvin Bishop Group, Love Sculpture from England; Country Joe and Fish, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Country Weather at the Fillmore West July 15, 1969

box 1:BG-183

Ten Years After, Ike & Tina Turner, The Flock; Steve Miller Band, Albert King, The Mountain with Felix Pappalardi at the Fillmore West July 22, 1969

box 1:BG-184

Canned Heat, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Southwind; Everly Brothers, Sons of Champlin, Baby Huey and the Babysitters at the Fillmore West July 29, 1969

box 1:BG-185

Fleetwood Mac, SRC; Jr. Walker and the All Stars, Lee Michaels, Tony Joe White at the Fillmore West August 5, 1969

box 1:BG-187

Chuck Berry, Jethro Tull, Loading Zone; Chicago Transit Authority, Youngbloods, Colosseum at the Fillmore West August 12, 1969

box 1:BG-188

John Mayall, Mother Earth, New York Rock & Roll Ensemble at the Fillmore West August 19, 1969

box 1:BG-189

Ten Years After, Terry Reid, Barkays; Spirit, Savoy Brown, Womb at the Fillmore West August 26, 1969

box 1:BG-190

Santana, Sea Train, Yusef Lateef at the Fillmore West September 4, 1969

box 1:BG-196

Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Little Richard, The Move at the Fillmore West October 16, 1969

box 1:BG-205

Grateful Dead, Flock, Humble Pie at the Fillmore West December 4, 1969

box 1:BG-206

Chambers Brothers, The Nice, King Crimson at the Fillmore West December 11, 1969

box 1:BG-207

Santana, Grand Funk Railroad, Fat Mattress with Noel Redding at Winterland December 18, 1969

box 1:BG-208

Sly & the Family Stone, Spirit, Southwind, Ball 'n Jack at Winterland December 26, 1969

box 1:BG-210

The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, John Hammond at the Fillmore West January 2, 1970

box 1:BG-211

Chicago, The Guess Who, Seals & Croft at the Fillmore West January 8, 1970

box 1:BG-212

B.B.King, Buddy Guy, Allman Brothers at the Fillmore West; Laura Nyro, The Band at the Berkeley Community Center January 15, 1970

box 1:BG-213

Albert King, Savoy Brown, Zephyr at the Fillmore West; Laura Nyro, The Band at the Berkeley Community Theater January 22, 1970

box 1:BG-214

Steve Miller Band, Sha Na Na, Ten Wheel Drive with Genya Ravan at the Fillmore West January 29, 1970

box 1:BG-216

Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal, Big Foot at the Fillmore West February 5, 1970

box 1:BG-217

Country Joe & the Fish, Sons of Champlin, Area Code 615 at the Fillmore West February 12, 1970

box 1:BG-218

Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Eric Clapton, New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, Golden Earrings at the Fillmore West February 19, 1970

box 1:BG-220

Jack Bruce & Friends, Johnny Winter, Mountain, Eric Mercury 'Birthrite' at the Fillmore West and Winterland February 26, 1970

box 1:BG-221

Butterfield Blues Band, Savoy Brown, Keith Relf's Renaissance at the Fillmore West March 5, 1970

box 1:BG-223

Ten Years After, Buddy Rich & His Orchestra, Sea Train, Kimberly at the Fillmore West March 12, 1970

box 1:BG-224

It's A Beautiful Day, Chuck Berry, Loading Zone at the Fillmore West March 19, 1970

box 1:BG-225

Chicago, James Cotton Blues Band, Family Fritz at the Fillmore West and Winterland March 26, 1970

box 1:BG-226

Jethro Tull, Manfred Mann 'Chapter Three', Bessie Jones & the Georgia Sea Island Singers, Clouds at the Fillmore West April 2, 1970

box 1:BG-227

Grateful Dead, Miles Davis Quintet, Stone the Crows at the Fillmore West April 9, 1970

box 1:BG-228

John Mayall with Duster Bennett, Larry Coryell, Argent at the Fillmore West April 16, 1970

box 1:BG-229

Joe Cocker Mad Dogs and Englishman, Van Morrison, The Stonemans at the Fillmore West and Winterland April 23, 1970

box 1:BG-231

Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention, Salt 'n Pepper, Clouds at the Fillmore West April 30, 1970

box 1:BG-232

Lee Michaels, Small Faces with Rod Stewart, Catfish, Shorty with Georgie Fame at the Fillmore West May 7, 1970

box 1:BG-233

Spirit, Poco, Gypsy at the Fillmore West May 14, 1970

box 1:BG-235

B.B.King, Albert King, Mendelbaum at the Fillmore West May 21, 1970

box 1:BG-236

Country Joe & the Fish, Blues Image, Silver Metre at the Fillmore West May 28, 1970

box 1:BG-237

Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Southern Comfort at the Fillmore West June 4, 1970

box 1:BG-238

John Sebastian, Buddy Miles, Rig at the Fillmore West June 11, 1970

box 1:BG-239

Quicksilver Messenger Service, Don Ellis & His Orchestra, Rockwell at the Fillmore West June 18, 1970

box 1:BG-240

Sha-Na-Na, Pacific Gas & Electric, Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks; Abercrombie; Traffic, Leon Russell at the Fillmore West June 25, 1970

box 1:BG-241

Traffic, John Hammond, Lamb at the Fillmore West June 30, 1970

box 1:BG-242

Quicksilver Messenger Service, Mott the Hoople, Silver Metre at the Fillmore West July 9, 1970

box 1:BG-243

Steve Miller Band, Bo Diddley, Crow at the Fillmore West July 16, 1970

box 1:BG-244

Lee Michaels, Cold Blood, Brethren, Ten Years After, Cactus, Toe Fat at the Fillmore West July 23, 1970

box 1:BG-245

Ten Years After, Cactus, Toe Fat; It's A Beautiful Day, Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs; Procul Harum, Leon Russell, Blodwyn Pig; Fleetwood Mac, Buddy Miles, Albert Collins at the Fillmore West July 28, 1970

box 1:BG-246

The Byrds, Poco, Commander Cody; Van Morrison, John Lee Hooker; Led Zeppelin; Albert King, Cold Blood, Mason Proffit; Iron Butterfly with Pinera and Rhino, Aum, Black Oak Arkansas at the Fillmore West August 13, 1970

box 1:BG-250

Chuck Berry, Buddy Miles, Loading Zone; Eric Burdon and War, Seals and Crofts, Clover at the Fillmore West September 24, 1970

box 1:BG-253

Bo Diddley, Lightning Hopkins, New York Rock Ensemble, Beefy Red; Pink Floyd; Small Faces with Rod Stewart at the Fillmore West October 22, 1970

box 1:BG-254

Procol Harum, Poco, Mungo Jerry; Small Faces with Rod Stewart at the Fillmore West October 29, 1970

box 1:BG-255

Frank Zappa Mothers of Invention, Boz Scaggs, Ashton Gardner & Dyke at the Fillmore West November 5, 1970

box 1:BG-256

The Kinks, Elton John, Ballin' Jack, Juicy Lucy at the Fillmore West November 15, 1970

box 1:BG-259

Savoy Brown, Sea Train, Ry Cooder, Humble Pie; Tom Paxton; Ravi Shankar & Alla Rakha at the Fillmore West December 3, 1970

box 1:BG-260

Lee Michaels, Albert King, Atlee; Tom Paxton; Ravi Shankar & Alla Rakha at the Fillmore West December 10, 1970

box 1:BG-263

TitleCold Blood, Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs, Voices of East Harlem; Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage and assorted friends, Stoneground at the Fillmore West and Winterland December 31, 1970

box 1:BG-266/267

Free, Bloodrock, Edwards Hand; Spencer Davis, Taj Mahal, Fox at the Fillmore West January 14, 1971

box 1:BG-271

New Riders of the Purple Sage, Boz Scaggs, James and the Good Brothers at the Fillmore West February 25, 1971

box 1:BG-272

Aretha [Franklin], King Curtis and the Kingpins, Tower of Power, James Anderson at the Fillmore West March 5, 1971

box 1:BG-275

Eric Burdon and War, J. Geils Band, War; Santana; Heavy Water; Buddy Miles, Wayne Cochran, C. C. Riders, Sugarloaf at the Fillmore West and Winterland March 25, 1971

box 1:BG-279

Miles Davis, Elvin Bishop Group, Mandrill at the Fillmore West May 6, 1971

box 1:BG-280

Humble Pie, Swamp Dogg, Shanti at the Fillmore West May 13, 1971

box 1:BG-285

Boz Scaggs, Tower of Power, Mason Proffit at the Fillmore West June 17, 1971

box 1:BG-286

The Original Moby Grape, Spencer Davis and Peter Jameson, Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids at the Fillmore West June 24, 1971

box 1:BG-287

Boz Scaggs, Cold Blood, Flamin' Groovies, Stoneground; It's A Beautiful Day, Elvin Bishop Group, Grootna, Lamb; Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Rowan Brothers; Quicksilver Messenger Service, Hot Tuna, Yogi Phlegm; Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tower of Power during the last week at the Fillmore West June 30, 1971

box 1

"David Singer, The Poster, 2266 Union St. San Francisco" [2 unsigned copies] September 11, 1971

box 1:BG-179

Iron Butterfly, Cold Blood, Sanpaku; Spirit, Lee Michaels, Pyewacke at the Fillmore West [unsigned] June 24, 1969

box 1:BG-210

The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, John Hammond at the Fillmore West [unsigned] January 2, 1970

box 1:BG-220

Jack Bruce & Friends, Johnny Winter, Mountain, Eric Mercury 'Birthrite' at the Fillmore West and Winterland [unsigned] February 26, 1970

box 1:BG-221

Butterfield Blues Band, Savoy Brown, Keith Relf's Renaissance at the Fillmore West [unsigned] March 5, 1970

box 1:BG-223

Ten Years After, Buddy Rich & His Orchestra, Sea Train, Kimberly at the Fillmore West [unsigned] March 12, 1970

box 1:BG-225

Chicago, James Cotton Blues Band, Family Fritz at the Fillmore West and Winterland [unsigned] March 26, 1970

box 1:BG-228

John Mayall with Duster Bennett, Larry Coryell, Argent at the Fillmore West [unsigned] April 16, 1970

box 1:BG-233

Spirit, Poco, Gypsy at the Fillmore West [unsigned] May 14, 1970

box 1:BG-253

Bo Diddley, Lightning Hopkins, New York Rock Ensemble, Beefy Red; Pink Floyd; Small Faces with Rod Stewart at the Fillmore West [unsigned] October 22, 1970