THE TROUBADOUR FAMILY REUNION…AND THE BANNED PLAYED ON!
January 17, 2011
After reconnecting with a lot of my friends who are coming to the TROUBADOUR FAMILY REUNION Monday night January 17, 2011 I wanted to know a more about the club and the man who owned it, Doug Weston.
In a time of civil unrest in America, Doug Weston wasn’t afraid to present controversial acts who were protesting the status quo. He gave the “political puppeteers” the finger when he booked Lenny Bruce, even though his license could have revoked.He also regularly presented anti-establishment performers that other clubs were reluctant to hire, including Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Lord Buckley, and Phil Ochs.
The Hollywood Reporter said in his obituary, “Weston prided himself on the acts and audiences he attracted for more than four decades, from singer Linda Ronstadt to comedians such as the Smothers Brothers and Cheech & Chong. Elton John, beginning to make a name in England, played the Troubadour for six nights in August 1970, introduced by Neil Diamond. He came to consider the booking the best move of his career.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Troubadour was considered the most consistently important showcase of contemporary folk and folk-rock talent in the country. Appearances there could guarantee major record sales for new and emerging artists.
Over the years, the club’s acts were consistently impressive: the Byrds, Judy Collins, Bill Cosby, the Committee, Bo Diddley, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Gordon Lightfoot, Roger Miller, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Mort Sahl, Kris Kristofferson and Nina Simone.”
I asked Artist/ Photographer “Lezlie Sokol”, a former waitress at the club and one of the organizers of the REUNION, if she knew Doug.
“I Got to know him in several different capacities, not only at the club, but also in his home. He had great parties and dinners. He was also known for having a huge Thanksgiving party every year for employees and friends who had no family in the area.”
“Doug loved the troubadour…and he loved the fact that this was a place for all types of artists to try out new material or to just hang out. The club was like a refuge for so many. Doug took chances that others wouldn’t with talent. He was fearless in that sense. He’d hire artists that were blacklisted or banned. Like Lenny Bruce who was arrested at one point for just walking up on a stage. A lot of people thought that the club succeeded in spite of Doug not because of him. That was a mistake. A lot of folk took a lot for granted in those days, or attributed things to luck. Not so, when you look at the names and number of artists who started out at the troubadour and became A list stars, well, there ain’t no luck in that”
l to r- John Lennon, Anne Murray, Harry Niilson, Alice Cooper, and Mickey Dolenz
THEN I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS INFO ABOUT THE LEGENDARY CLUB.
1957
- The Troubadour opens.
- Lenny Bruce is arrested on obscenity charges.
1964
- After a gig by resident band The Men, Bob Dylan comes onstage for an impromptu “folk-twist” jam session – attended only by Troubadour staff. Shortly afterward, Dylan makes pop music history by switching from folk to folk-rock.
1965
- The Byrds, who met at a Monday open mic, perform their classic take on Dylan’s “Tambourine Man” for the first time.
1966
- Buffalo Springfield make their live debut.
1968
- Joni Mitchell makes her Los Angeles debut.
- Comedian Richard Pryor records his live debut album.
- Gordon Lightfoot US debut
1969
- Poco, late from a Denver gig, arrive to find unknown comic Steve Martin doing their songs on banjo to a rapturous crowd.
- Neil Young plays his debut solo show in LA.
- James Taylor makes his solo debut.
- Tim Buckley records Live at the Troubadour 1969.
1970
- Cheech and Chong are discovered by Lou Adler at a Monday Hoot Night.
- The Eagles’ Don Henley and Glenn Frey meet in the front bar.
- Elton John makes his U.S. debut, introduced by Neil Diamond.
- Neil Diamond releases Gold, an album recorded live at the Troubadour.
- Kris Kristofferson makes his Los Angeles debut opening for Linda Rondstadt.
- Janis Joplin parties at the Troubadour and the next day is found dead at the Landmark Hotel from a heroin overdose.
- James Taylor plays “You’ve got a Friend” for the first time. He heard his piano player (as well as opening act) , Carole King, play it during during soundcheck and they decided to give it a try.
1971
- Lori Lieberman writes the song “Killing Me Softly with His Song” inspired by a performance by Don McLean at the Troubadour.
- Waylon Jennings performs in the cult classic film Cisco Pike.
- Tom Waits is discovered by rock manager Herb Cohen during an amateur night.
- Carly Simon, opens for Cat Stevens.
1972
- Billy Joel makes his LA debut as the opening act for Ballin’ Jack
- Randy Newman returns to the Troubadour for a six night run to perform his masterpiece album “Sail Away”.
1973
- Van Morrison records his live record “It’s Too Late to Stop Now…”
- The Bryds reunite and launch tour with a Troubadour show.
- Pointer Sisters make their debut performance.
1974
- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band closed the hyped Columbia Records showcase week with a 90 minute set…that starts at 2 in the morning!
- John Lennon (wearing a Kotex on his head) and Harry Nilsson are escorted out of the club for heckling the Smothers Brothers.
- Elton John plays benefit show to raise money for UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute.
- On the last night of a triumphant week of Average White Band shows, drummer Robbie McIntosh dies of a drug overdose.
DON’T FORGET….Tonight JANUARY 17, 2011 is the TROUBADOUR FAMILY REUNION! You might want to go, but you’re not going to get in unless you make reservations! For more info http://www.troubadourfamilyreunion.com/
To Reach “Lezlie Sokol” paintedcloud@fastmail.fm
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THE TROUBADOUR FAMILY REUNION!
January 4, 2011
When I moved to Hollywood in the early ‘70’s the Whiskey Au-go-go and the Troubadour were the sun and the moon in the Rock and Roll universe. If you were in the music business you went to the Whiskey to dance and you went to the Troubadour to hustle, hype, and hang out!
Before I started plugging songs at Warner Brothers Music, my friend Allan Rinde, who was the west coast editor of Cashbox Magazine, hired me occasionally to write live music critiques (including Don McLean and “American Pie” at the Troubadour, which was considered his first major review)
Monday night was “Hoot Night” at the legendary hot spot, it was not only a place to hear new singer/ songwriters, but also a place to “Schmooze” with all of the top music reviewers, promoters, publishers, and producers. I was the new kid in town, and to gain tenure at the bar where all the “heavies” hung out, I had to make an impression fast. One night after I took my friend Olivia Newton-John dancing at the Whiskey, I asked her to stop by the Troubadour so I could make my friends at the bar “jealous”.
Suddenly, dozens of people gathered around us, including all the hot shots acting like my long lost friends, wanting to be introduced…from then on I never had to buy my own drinks at the Troubadour ever again!
When my friend, artist/ photographer, “Lezlie Sokol”, who once was a waitress at the club told me that she is one of the organizers of the Troubadour Family Reunion, that I’d been hearing so much about, I got excited! She told me, “On Monday night, January 17, 2011, the club will celebrate the days of the Troubadour Family (1964 to 1974) and the club itself for those of us who were there when it all was going down. “The Hoot Night” and front bar regulars, the performers, former employees, and the “Underground Tastemakers” of the time are all expected to be here on this unforgettable night!”
Don’t be left out in the cold on Santa Monica Boulevard, This is a closed event and you have to make a reservation to attend. To find out more click on to www.troubadourfamilyreunion.com/
EXTRA! EXTRA! “EVERYTHING OLD IS NEWS AGAIN” When my friend Photographer Sally Stevens and I reconnected through “Lezlie Sokol” and the Troubadour Family Reunion, the name Jim Morrison and his recent pardon came up. Then Sally told me a riveting story about how her confrontation with Jim Morrison got her fired, and how it turned into a lifetime friendship with the Lizard King. I asked her if she was writing a book about this and her other amazing stories…she said she didn’t have the time. Then I told her about the joys of blogging.
In less than 24 hours, the enterprising Ms.Stevens had her blog up called “A LIFE IN THE DAY” , and she just posted part one of her shocking Jim Morrison Story; I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I did. http://rockphiles.typepad.com/a_life_in_the_day/2011/01/pardon-me-mr-morrison-.html
Regards, Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
Copyright 2011 by Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com
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