The Canyons have long called to the bohemians and artists of Los Angeles. While Laurel Canyon is renowned for its role as a hub of rock history in the 1960s and '70s, Topanga Canyon has its own rich tapestry of stories. In this episode of My Rock Moment, we welcome Emmeline Summerton from the Instagram account Lost Canyons LA, a historian of the LA Canyons and former writer for the New Topanga Times. Together, we explore Topanga's iconic rock legends and the songs inspired by this enchanting area.

Was there truly a roadhouse that sparked Jim Morrison’s lyrics in “Roadhouse Blues”? Did a fateful house party in Topanga Canyon contribute to the breakup of one of the most successful bands of the late '60s? Which famous Topanga musician got his start with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention before forming his own band? And did Ronald Reagan’s daughter really co-write a classic Eagles song?

In light of the recent devastating fires, this episode pays tribute to the unique beauty of Topanga Canyon, nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains. Despite the challenges, this iconic area endures, and My Rock Moment is proud to celebrate its lasting rock ’n’ roll legacy.

Playlist:

You can find Emmeline Summerton at @lostcanyonsla on Instagram. And follow My Rock Moment at @la_woman_rocks

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Chris O'Dell might very well hold the title of the world's first female rock 'n' roll tour manager.

O'Dell has led a fascinating life; one that planted her firmly in rock royalty's inner circle in the 60s and 70s. Befriending Derek Taylor in LA, she soon found herself working for the Beatles' Apple Corps in London. While there she was present for the recording of The White Album, Abbey Road, Let it Be, and sang in the Hey Jude chorus. She sat on the rooftop while the Beatles played their last live performance in January of 1969 and even lived with George Harrison and Pattie Boyd at Friar Park.

She went on to be one of the first - if not, THE first - female tour managers, working with the likes of George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan on his 'Rolling Thunder Revue' tour. She inspired George Harrison to pen the song, "Miss O’Dell,” she's the subject of Leon Russell’s “Pisces Apple Lady” and “Hummingbird," she is the “woman down the hall,” in the Joni Mitchell song, “Coyote,” and her picture can be seen on the back cover of The Stones's 1972 masterpiece, Exile on Main Street.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode, but to get the full story, check out her book and website with the links below:

https://www.missodell.com

Miss O'Dell: Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and the Women They Loved

Playlist:

Pisces Apple Lady - Leon Russell

Hey Jude - The Beatles

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

Miss O'Dell - George Harrison

Torn and Frayed - The Rolling Stones

Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan

Follow My Rock Moment on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks

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Jenny Boyd, though not a musician, is well-known in the music industry. Formerly married to Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, she's also Pattie Boyd's sister and sister-in-law to George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Jenny was surrounded by rock royalty from a young age and experienced many legendary moments in rock history as a result.

Drawing on her deep connections in the rock world, Jenny wrote 'Icons of Rock: In Their Own Words' - a compilation of candid interviews with some of the greatest musicians of the '60s, 70s, 80s and today. Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Don Henley, Eric Clapton and other rock giants draw back the curtain on their creative process, their thoughts on spirituality and the effect that drugs and alcohol may have had on their art.

Infused with personal stories of her time in San Francisco during the Summer of Love, meeting George Harrison for the first time and her stay in India with The Beatles, Jenny and I discuss some of the most poignant interviews in the book.

Get more details on the book with the links below:

https://thejennyboyd.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Icons-Rock-Their-Behind-Famous/dp/1684815444

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The Wrecking Crew in the 60s and The Immediate Family in the 70s were the faces behind most of the hits of that time. They were proficient, able to improvise and highly sought after. However, their experiences as session musicians and their relationships with the bands and artists they supported were very different. While the members of the Wrecking Crew were the anonymous, unsung heroes of their time, the members of the Immediate Family were credited on the albums on which they played and forged strong relationships with the bands and artists they supported on the road.

Director and Producer Denny Tedesco joins My Rock Moment in today’s episode. As the Director of both The Wrecking Crew and Immediate Family documentaries, he takes us behind the making of the two documentaries and shares stories about the musicians they celebrate. He also recounts personal moments growing up as the son of Tommy Tedesco, one of the most highly revered session guitarists of the 60s and part of The Wrecking Crew.

To learn more about the documentaries, check out the links below:

https://www.magpictures.com/thewreckingcrew

https://immediatefamilyfilm.com

Follow My Rock Moment on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks

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Alison Martino has been dubbed “The Godmother of Los Angeles,” and with good reason. As a writer, producer, on-air host for the Emmy-nominated SoCal Scene on Spectrum News 1, and creator of Vintage Los Angeles, she has been celebrating (and in some cases saving!) the history of this great city for years. 

In this episode we discuss the history of the Sunset Strip - the places and spaces that used to be, the venues and hotspots that continue to represent its legendary past and the fate of its iconic staple, The Viper Room. She’ll also share memories of growing up in LA as the daughter of famous singer, Al Martino. 

For those of you who were lucky enough to experience the Strip in the 60s, 70s and 80s, this episode will be a nostalgic trip!

Find Alison Martino and Vintage Los Angeles here:

https://alisonmartino.com

https://www.instagram.com/alisonmartino

https://www.facebook.com/VintageLosAngeles

https://www.youtube.com/user/dantanasgirl

Music in today's episode:

LA Woman - The Doors

Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale - Love

Walking in L.A. - Missing Persons

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana

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While The Mamas & The Papas were only together a few years, the iconic music that was made and the drama that ensued between this foursome in that short time is legendary. But what happened before John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, Cass Elliot, and Denny Doherty all came together? Each had their own unique journey before ultimately heading west and making California Dreamin’ a reality. My guest, author Richard Campbell, wrote a compelling book, ‘Gettin’ Kinda Itchie: The Groups That Made The Mamas and The Papas.’ It’s a prequel to this fabulous foursome's success as a group. As a close friend to the band and the “keeper of the flame,” as Michelle Phillips affectionately calls him, Richard brings us into John, Michelle, Denny, and Cass’ worlds with stories, photos, and rare album covers.

In this episode, you’ll hear out-of-print songs from their previous bands - The Journeymen, The Mugwumps, and The Big 3 - songs that Richard has compiled on YouTube and Spotify. We’ll discuss their individual journeys as they strove to make a mark in the thriving East folk scene and how the four ultimately came together in the U.S. Virgin Islands and shortly after, found themselves in LA. 

So, let’s take a trip back to the early 60s when folk was thriving, Kennedy was alive and well and these 4 individuals were slogging it out on the East Coast in hopes of one day hitting it big.

Songs in this episode (in order):

“Creeque Alley” The Mamas & the Papas

“Chase the Rising Sun” The Journeymen

“The Banjo Song” - The Big 3

“Do You Know What I Mean” - The Mugwumps

“Mr Tambourine Man” - The New Journeymen

“California Dreamin’” - The Mamas & the Papas

Links to Richard Campell’s channels:

www.gettinkindaitchie.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThemusicofGettinKindaItc-tb7lu/playlists

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gCs3dADXDMlSTinWFlLop?si=21406369c83e4bee&nd=1&dlsi=f6042ae5ddc94e78

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Skip Taylor's life and times are part of rock legend. He cut his teeth in the LA music scene in the 60s working with the who's who of rock at the time. However, Skip is best known as Canned Heat's manager and has been managing the band since the mid-60s, shortly after discovering them playing at a UCLA frat party. Also playing at that fateful frat party were The Doors, and he shares how he got both bands a record deal. Skip was in the center of it all at Woodstock and Monterey Pop, and recounts his adventures in opening Kaleidoscope, the hot nightclub in Hollywood that became a short-lived dream thanks to some greedy LA gangsters.

This interview is packed with great stories from a guy who was in the middle of some of the most memorable rock moments of the time, so let’s get into it!

For upcoming gigs and Canned Heat's discography, check out the links below:

https://cannedheatmusic.com

https://www.facebook.com/dontforgettoboogie

And don't forget to follow My Rock Moment on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks/

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Today’s guest on My Rock Moment is Dave Gebroe, founder and host of the well-known podcast, Discograffiti. Discograffiti is a weekly music podcast that delivers the objective truth about the entire discography of every single artist and band that ever existed. The show does a deep-dive inspection of all EPs, singles, compilations, relevant solo work and bootlegs, and notable appearances on other artists’ records. Every release is assigned an objectively accurate star rating between zero and five, and Dave shares best and worse picks in their discography.

In this episode, Dave and I explore the California Myth within the context of 60s and 70s rock. Surf rock as well as other anthems that pay homage to the Golden State, fueled the global fascination with perfect waves, beaches flanked with tanned skin and teeny bikinis, fame, beauty, and a promise of some grander way of living. California has long been a western beacon dating back centuries but the songs we’ll cover today conjure up visions and dreams of an ideal life that was far from factual for many. 

Some songs on this list might come as a surprise, and others have crossed generations, staples of our classic rock playlists. Have a listen and see how your list compares.

For more information on Discograffiti and to follow on social, check out the links below:

Website: https://discograffiti.com/

Facebook

Twitter (X)

Instagram

Spotify

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In this episode of My Rock Moment, we sit down for Part Two of our discussion with Roger Steffens. Roger is a writer, actor, radio host, legendary reggae historian, and author of "So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley" (which Rolling Stone headlined in its review “…[arguably] the Best Bob Marley Book Ever.”). Roger was co-host of the "Reggae Beat" on KCRW from 1979 to 1987 and "Reggae Beat International" from 1983 to 1987, which was syndicated internationally to 130 stations. Seven rooms of his home in Los Angeles house reggae archives, which include the world's largest collection of Bob Marley material.

In Part Two of our interview with Steffens, he'll discuss how "Reggae Beat," took Los Angeles by storm...and led to two weeks on the road with Bob Marley and the Wailers. We'll also discuss his love of 1950s rock 'n' roll and the time he got to meet his idol, iconic 50s rock DJ, Alan Freed. Roger will also share how he got turned on to LSD and was almost pickpocketed the first time he touched down in Jamaica by one of the biggest reggae stars at the time.

To find out more about Roger Steffens and his work, check out the links below:

The Family Acid Website: http://www.thefamilyacid.com/

The Family Acid Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefamilyacid/?hl=en

So Much Things to Say on Amazon

For more on Host Amanda Morck and My Rock Moment, visit: The My Rock Moment website

LA Woman Rocks on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks/

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In this episode of My Rock Moment, we sit down with Roger Steffens. Roger is a writer, actor, radio host, legendary reggae historian, and author of "So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley" (which Rolling Stone headlined in its review “…[arguably] the Best Bob Marley Book Ever.”). Roger was co-host of the Reggae Beat on KCRW from 1979 to 1987 and Reggae Beat International from 1983 to 1987, which was syndicated internationally to 130 stations. Seven rooms of his home in Los Angeles house reggae archives, which include the world's largest collection of Bob Marley material.

While most of his career has been devoted to reggae and its luminaries, his love of rock ‘n’ roll started back in 1953 as a devoted fan of Alan Freed.

Part One of our discussion starts with Roger remembering one particular concert in 1967 in San Francisco - it was an unforgettable night of rock ‘n’ roll, as Bill Graham introduced 2 then unknown acts to an anticipant audience. The concert was a poignant way to say goodbye to the U.S. as the next day he was sent off to Vietnam. We’ll discuss the 2 years he spent there working in Psyops while protest rock erupted across the nation. We’ll hear Steffens’ incredible story about meeting the Countess De Breteuil in Marrakesh in 1971 and how that connected him to the passing of Jim Morrison. Steffens will also share the serendipitous circumstances that led to him meeting Bob Marley for the first time. 

To find out more about Roger Steffens and his work, check out the links below:

The Family Acid Website: http://www.thefamilyacid.com/

The Family Acid Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefamilyacid/?hl=en

So Much Things to Say on Amazon

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