Lost Media: Kevokian in Concert
On May 27th of 1997, Kevorkian released the album “A Very Still Life.” The Jazz album was composed by Kevorkian and showcases his flute abilities. As if practicing medicine, writing books, and composing and playing music was not enough to qualify Kevorkian as a renaissance man, the album art features a cropped image from one of his original oil paintings, an piece of art which shares the same name as the album.
A year before this album would hit store shelves to decent reviews but low sales numbers, a Michigan based video production company was contracted for a unique job. Contacted by Kevorkian’s defense attorney Geoffrey Fieger, they took on the work of recording a concert featuring Dr. Jack Kevorkian and musician Craig Rifel.
Between 1990 and his arrest in 1998, Kevorkian helped 130 terminally ill paitents commit assisted suicide - a legacy that brought him more fame than any artistic or alternate medical endevors. At the time of this concert the draw was likely weighted more towards his reputation as Dr. Death over his musical abilities.
The original Hi-8 tape case with handwritten details on the concert.
On Tuesday April 30th in 1996 at 8:00 pm at the Central United Methodist Church in Waterford, Michigan - a small crowd would assemble to listen to this performance live. From 1996 until its digitization in 2025, this group of individuals as well as the cameraman would be the only people to have heard or seen the concert in full. A 3 minute video had been previously uploaded online, however the full recording clocks in at 1 hour and 58 minutes in length.
The concert footage tape. This is the original, and no other copies were produced.
Along with several classic compositions, six songs composed by Kevorkian were played. Prelude & Fugue in E-flat, Pipe Dream, Sonata in D: I. Andante II. Largo III. Allegro, Passacaglia on B-A-C-H, Pastorale & Fugue in B-flat, and finally Fantasy & Fugue in C are the titles of the original compositions performed. He speaks in more detail on these songs during the introduction to the concert, and it is made clear that Bach was a large inspiration for Kevorkian’s own music.
Left to right: Kevorkian and Craig Rifel. Kevorkian watches the organ player. Kevorkian speaks with lawyer Geoffrey Fieger.
Geoffrey Rieger plays the opening song of the performance, Prelude & Fugue in E-Flat , composed by Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
