05/15/2026
Live from Laurel Canyon
by Constance Kostelc
"Live from Laurel Canyon" entertained the Livingston County Concert Association with music from the 60s and 70s that came out of folk rock groups that congregated in the Laurel Canyon area of Los Angeles, California. Besides singing music of the era, they also told stories which were supplemented by on-screen photos and videos.
One of the first groups to move to the area was the" Mamas and the Papas" & started by John Phillips. John started the band with his wife Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty. When Cass Elliot originally auditioned for the band, Phillips felt she wasn't quite right but later relented. According to legend that Elliot confirmed, after being hit on the head by a metal pipe and waking up with a concussion she could sing three notes higher. (Do not try this!)
The first song of the evening was "California Dreaming," a song written by Michelle Phillips about living in New York in the cold and missing California. But soon their dream came true and the group moved back to LA and settled in the Laurel Canyon area. Laurel Canyon seemed to give off artist vibes as many other groups congregated there.
After the intermission, the group discussed Carol King who began her career at age 18 as a staff songwriter. In 1968, Carol moved to Laurel Canyon. She wrote her second solo album there in 15 weeks. This album is known as “Tapestry” and it stayed on the charts for six years.
The audience was then given two choices of Carole King songs to choose. They chose “Natural Woman,” which Carol wrote in 1967 with then husband Gerry Goffin.
James Taylor spent time in New York and London before he moved to Laurel Canyon and met Carole King. His second single made him a household name. This song was “Fire and Rain” and discussed the su***de of a friend.
The group “America” was represented with the song “ A Horse with No Name.” The first song on their second album helped nominate them as best new artist. This song “Ventura Highway” mentioned purple rain in the song. This inspired Prince to write his own song about purple rain.
Jackson Browne had a father who loved jazz and would have jam sessions at the house. Browne decided to go to Greenwich Village and, much like Carol King, he became a staff writer there. But he would also visit friends in California and would crash at homes in Laurel Canyon.
Linda Ronstadt began “The Stone Ponys,” who would play at open mic on Monday evenings at the legendary live music venue “The Troubadour.” There were a lot of industry people and artists in the area and it was the best place to find a manager. The group"s tribute to Ronstadt was “You're No Good” and “When Will I be Loved.” Other artists that congregated in the area were Glenn Frey and Don Henley. And of course, to experience the Eagles, “Laurel Canyon” sang “Hotel California”.
They then performed the Buffalo Springfield iconic protest song "Something Happening Here." While many people thought of it as an anti-Vietnam War song, it was actually inspired by confrontations between the police and youth over the closure of a popular club called Pandora's box.
“The Doors” also found inspiration in a rented place in Laurel Canyon. Lead singer and writer Jim Morrison wrote the hit song “Light my Fire”. The next year, José Feliciano did a Latin inspired version. "Laurel Canyon" chose to celebrate both versions with their rendition of the song.
Don't forget to purchase your tickets for next year's concerts if you haven't already. They make a great Mother's Day, Father's Day or Fourth of July present.
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