The Magic of Laurel Canyon Reappears as Grammy Museum Special Exhibition Opens May 9, 2014

BURBANK, Calif. - May 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Laurel Canyon, nestled in the Hollywood Hills of California, became known as an enclave of creativity in the 60s and 70s. Artists like Carole King; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Neil Young; Joni Mitchell; Jackson Browne; and groups like The Doors and Eagles made Laurel Canyon their retreat. During that same period, some of the most amazing music ever written and performed, found its way to recording studios, records, and the radio. Laurel Canyon became the Canyon of Dreams, and it attracted even more artists from far and wide. Beginning May 9th, the Grammy Museum next to L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles opens its new feature exhibition, "California Dreamin': The Sounds of Laurel Canyon, 1965-1977".

Randall Michael Tobin, producer/engineer at Theta Sound Studio in Burbank, California, noticed a trend that points to a resurgence of the Laurel Canyon vibe. "In the last couple of years, Laurel Canyon, a place I'd actually never visited despite being an L.A. native, has made its presence known in my life. First, with singer/songwriter and folk icon Art Podell, who came to Theta Sound in 2012 to begin recording his first solo record ever."

Art had been part of the Greenwich Village folk duo Art & Paul, and later, after a move to California, a founding member of the New Christy Minstrels, with whom he won a Grammy award in 1962. After the folk era ran its course and the Beatles changed the pop world forever, Art took a long siesta from the music scene. Fast-forward to 2012 when Art brought Randall a new song to record: "Toni's Poem (Laurel Canyon)" which tells the story of Art's journey from "The Village" to "The Canyon."

"I was blown away by Art's song. The narrative told an amazing story, all of it true, that seemed like a documentary on Art's career, on Toni Stern (whose poetry became lyrics for two of Carole King's songs on 'Tapestry'), and about Carole King herself." Randall continued, "All of a sudden I knew I was in the middle of something wonderful; a renaissance of music that means something. I think of it as 'Laurel Canyon Rising' again, and that's what the world needs more of right now: honest songs that emotionally connect with the listener."

Art liked what he heard on the playback and after some woodshedding, he returned in the autumn of 2013 to record more songs for the record. Randall suggested that Art perform a live set in the studio in front of an audience, to capture that vibe that only a live show can produce. Randall recorded the show and several of the resulting tracks ended up on the final disc.

Meanwhile, Randall ran into producer/journalist Harvey Kubernik while scouting a video venue for another client, Izzy Chait. Harvey happened to be doing PR for Izzy and was just as surprised to see Randall at Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill Jazz Restaurant. Harvey had produced several spoken word and poetry albums at Theta Sound Studio over the years, including the critically-acclaimed spoken-word history, "The Doors: Myth & Reality" by Ray Manzarek. While they were catching up, Randall was surprised to learn that Harvey had written a new book about Laurel Canyon entitled "Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon."

As Randall related, "This was the second instance of Laurel Canyon coming into my life. I had to get this book and learn more about this part of L.A., this magical place called Laurel Canyon." Sure enough, the book arrived and Randall was amazed at how much there was to know about that place and time. But then a third Laurel Canyon "event" sealed the deal.

In January 2014, an article in the L.A. Times talked about an upcoming exhibition at the Grammy Museum, focusing in on the artists and the music of Laurel Canyon, and how the museum's executive director Robert Santelli was looking for people, music, photographs and artifacts from that era. Randall, a member of the Recording Academy since 1981, thought that Art's new album, and especially his song, "Toni's Poem (Laurel Canyon)," would be a perfect addition to the exhibit. Besides, Art lived in Laurel Canyon in the early 60s, just before the folk/rock fire got started in that area.

Art submitted his new album to the Grammy Museum and was soon contacted about speaking on the panel for the exhibition's opening the evening of May 9th. In addition to his panel appearance, Art Podell's CD "From the Village to the Canyon - A Songwriter's Journey" will be offered for sale at the Grammy Museum gift shop. Art has autographed a limited number of discs for this special occasion. The CDs will be available for the entire run of the exhibition.

Art Podell, Harvey Kubernik and Randall Michael Tobin will be at the Grammy Museum for the Laurel Canyon exhibition opening on May 9th at 7:30 p.m. They each hope that the exhibit sparks a renaissance in the Laurel Canyon state-of-mind, where artists came to write, play, and change the world.

http://www.grammymuseum.org/on-display/laurel-canyon
http://www.thetasound.com
http://www.artpodell.com