1968 - 1969

Doug Weston's Troubador | Hollywood | 1968
Photo by Ron Fleury

Above are photos of me playing one of my very *first* gigs in Los Angeles! Ron Fleury, who shot such famous artists as The Who and Blondie, took these pictures. I remember Shelley Winters was in the audience that night ... she was showcasing a folk singer from Italy by the name of Shawn Phillips (Shawn's music is featured in the movie "Lost Horizon" starring Charles Boyer). Anyway, the Troubador became my '2nd home' in L.A., between 1968 and '71 - there were regular parties held at Doug Weston's house for all the performers - a place where you could meet celebrities on a regular basis. I'll never forget looking up during my performances and seeing Jim Morrison in the audience, more than once or twice -- one night, late, after pretty much everyone was gone, I was packing up my gear when the bartender discovered Morrison out back ... hanging by his neck, from the balcony above! Morrison had a room upstairs (I think it was basically *for* passing out) and he apparently tried to hang himself with his belt that evening - unsuccessfully. I just packed up my gear and went home.

By the Railroad Tracks | Downtown L.A. | 1969
Photos by Mark Paladino

Mark Paladino took these pictures ... the picture below presents a great shot of my handmade Garcia classical guitar, seen in the pics of me performing at Doug Weston's Troubador (at the top of this page) in 1968-69; I won 2nd Prize at the local 4-H County Fair when I was 17 years old ... the Garcia and it's hardshell case were the prize. I traded the Garcia, in 1971-72, for My pal Bruce Scofield's Gibson SG ... and got it back from him 36 years later! You can see pictures of it now: Click Here