MOG

Even though my cubs (and sometimes Mrs. Bear) call me Old Hippie, I’m not really stuck in the 60s… I promise… I really enjoy music from a time span of hundreds of years, and find lots of jewels in today’s music, too.

So, what’s that got to do with a sleepy canyon in Hollywood Hills, California? Well, everything… Something interesting happens down in my soul when I hear California Dreamin’ or It’s Too Late. I don’t know that I can express this feeling very well – but suffice it to say that a bygone era haunts my mind when I hear so many of the tunes from that time and place.

Somehow or another, Laurel Canyon (which is also full of eucalyptus trees – once you’ve smelled them, you never forget them) became a gathering place of a zillion free-thinkers and musicians during the 60s and into the 70s. John Mayall, Zappa, CS&N, Jim Morrison, The Mamas and the Papas, and a list of people who are truly who’s-who. Some great music, emotion, and politics came about in the beauty of Laurel Canyon.

There’s more to the Laurel Canyon story. Spend a few minutes rooting around on the internet. There are lots of good stories… and a few bad ones too.

Now, back to the 21st century and your regularly scheduled program (programme :-))…