June 12th, 2025 § Comments Off on Brian Wilson § permalink
For those of us growing up in the late 1960s while “rock music” was exploding, the Beach Boys were making old fashioned music. Although they did take their genre to new heights with the quality of their songwriting, recordings, arrangements, and performances.
Brian Wilson was the musical director of the Beach Boys, and after a number of albums he decided to make full use of the best studios and session players in Los Angeles to “produce” their sound, therein setting the gold standard for the recording industry in the process.
There is no question of Brian’s genius and musical influence on the world of music, especially audible on the Beach Boys album, “Pet Sounds,” with its timeless and holy song, “God Only Knows.” I can vouch for a lot of songwriters who pinched a thing or two from that one!
In the mid 1990s I started playing golf at Holmby Park, on the nearly 100 year-old, 18-hole “pony golf course,” next to the Los Angeles Country Club. The park has two Lawn Bowling greens and a children’s play area, and sits below the “ungodly” Spelling/Ecclestone mansion, next to what was Bing Crosby’s house. The Holmby course was saved from “lack of budget” in 1981, by donations from neighbours, Armand Hammer and Hugh Heffner! In 2008 I researched and wrote a history of Holmby Park for the Golf Division of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department.
On a few occasions over the years I saw Brian Wilson walking laps around the park. At first he was alone, and usually in a Hawaiian shirt, but the last time I saw him in the 2010s he was in a dressing gown with support following/helping him around. As far as I saw, no one bothered him, or didn’t recognise him. I’m sure those that did were happy to leave him in peace. We were all hoping his walks would contribute to his long good health!
These past few years when I walk our dogs around Holmby Park, I always think of Brian. “Requiescat in pace”
May 31st, 2024 § Comments Off on The George Floyd Protests Aftermath. Los Angeles. May 31, 2020. § permalink
“Meet you at 3rd and Fairfax”!
I heard the protest coming along 3rd street. I jumped on my bicycle and headed towards them only to find people with bats and knives and police with bats and guns committing some serious violence against each other which frightened me to death and I raced home! All night the pops and bangs and helicopters and sirens rang on and on like in a war zone! Crazy scary!
The photos in the video were taken the next morning.
I awoke to complete silence and empty streets. I grabbed my bike and rode around and took snaps. Later the California National Guard and the cleanup crews arrived to clean everything up and erase any memory of the night!
The song “Dear John” was written as a letter to John Lennon in December 1999. I was working with Mick Fleetwood on a project where I had his drum stem and it inspired me to write the music. The words are a letter to John.
The Aftermath of the George Floyd Protests at 3rd & Fairfax, Los Angeles, May 2020.
April 25th, 2019 § Comments Off on Steve Ferrone’s Birthday Bash! § permalink
What an amazing time we had in old Pasadena thanks to Jason and Alan and Becky and everyone who helped to get so many great friends from all over the world together to celebrate Stephen’s 60th birthday.
Steve and the Band
The list of friends who came to play included Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes, David Pack, Brian Auger, Alex Ligertwood, Benmont Tench, David Garfield, Malik Pointer, Steve Postell, Danny Halperin, Tim Scott and many others.
Brian Auger and John Jones
Songs included Josie and the Biggest Part of Me and some very serious funk!
David Pack, Nathan, Steve & the band
I managed to commandeer the piano in the sitting room for the gentle after hours show. After a few Beatles and Beach Boys numbers we floated back to earth. Happy Birthday Steve!
Becky and Steve
Steve Ferrone and John Jones at NAMM Los Angeles circa 1998
January 18th, 2018 § Comments Off on The Hollywood Sign § permalink
The news about putting another sign on Mount Lee, on the Valley side, made me think of my song from my 1994 album, One Moment in Time –The Hollywood Sign.
October 10th, 2017 § Comments Off on Be True To Yourself – Live in Burbank 2000 § permalink
This was a Live Internet Broadcast from netthistv.com‘s studio, recorded March 29, 2000, of John Jones and the Minstrels, performing songs from the album, One Moment in Time
On that rainy night in Burbank, the Minstrels were, Richard Martinez (djembe), Sean Halley (guitar, vocal), and Christoph Bull (accordion, vocal). Steve Ferrone was expected to play percussion, but couldn’t find a parking spot, and missed the show!
Richard, Sean, and myself, had played a couple of the songs at the Troubador, a few months earlier. For this show we were joined by Christoph.
Big Thanks to Kevin and Rob Carmony for the video!
This was a Live Internet Broadcast from netthistv.com‘s studio, recorded March 29, 2000, of John Jones and the Minstrels, performing songs from the album, One Moment in Time
On that rainy night in Burbank, the Minstrels were, Richard Martinez (djembe), Sean Halley (guitar, vocal), and Christoph Bull (accordion, vocal). Steve Ferrone was expected to play percussion, but couldn’t find a parking spot, and missed the show!
Richard, Sean, and myself, had played a couple of the songs at the Troubador, a few months earlier. For this show we were joined by Christoph.
Big Thanks to Kevin and Rob Carmony for the video!
