'70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts - Author Discussion & Book Signing

Jim Summaria began professionally photographing rock concerts in 1973 at the age of nineteen when he became the staff photographer for the ChicagoLand concert promoter Flip Side Productions. His rock & roll photos have been viewed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum and Hall of Fame, the Grammy Awards and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England. Along with Mark Plotnick, he cohosts the radio program That Classic Rock Show on WRLR 98.3FM―The Life. Recently retired journalist and market researcher Mark Plotnick draws from his years as a nonprofessional keyboards player and devotee of classic rock–era music to write about the music and performers he loves. In 2019, he coauthored Classic Rock: Photographs from Yesterday & Today with his friend Jim Summaria.

Born and raised in Chicago, Mark Plotnick graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Loyola University and finished one year's studies at the Illinois College of Optometry. His first full-time job was selling pianos and organs for Lyon and Healy. In 1984, he joined best friend Alan Day and co-authored "The Smart Money Shopper." The two were the subject of newspaper and magazine interviews and appeared on Chicago-area radio and television shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show. The Oprah experience led to positions as a PR and copywriter, trade magazine journalist, marketing research analyst writer and marketing manager. After retiring, he teamed up with his long time friend Jim Summaria to write and talk about the music and performers who've inspired him as a devotee of classic rock era music history. His first post-retirement book was co-authored with veteran concert photographer Jim Summaria and titled "Classic Rock - Photographs from Yesterday and Today" published by Amherst Media in 2019. That partnership continues with his latest book titled "'70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts" published in November 2024 by the History Press. Mark and Jim have appeared on many radio and television programs. Mark also writes music and concert reviews for several publications and along with Jim, co-hosts "That Rock Show with Jim and Mark" that broadcasts from the Road to Rock Studio at the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet, IL. At the request of the Library of Congress National Recording Registry, he was asked to write an essay about the debut album by the band Chicago. Mark is a member of the Chicago Writers Association.