ENTERTAINMENT
By Jonny Whiteside | January 20, 2012
Chicano rockabilly singer Chan Romero may not have enjoyed the flash-bang success of Richie Valens, but his role as an artistic trailblazer is equally significant. Romero, who will make a rare appearance here next Friday, is a key figure in Latin rock history, maintaining a chain of cultural custody and context that allowed emerging colleagues Chris Montez, Question Mark & the Mysterians, Thee Midniters, Cannibal & the Headhunters, Santana and Los Lobos to establish themselves as influential rock 'n' roll forces.
ENTERTAINMENT
By Steve Appleford, steve.appleford@latimes.com | December 7, 2011
Readers of the print edition of our papers in Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena and La Cañada may have noticed some changes in Marquee, the arts and features section from Times Community News. In recent weeks, we've built on our coverage of music, theater, film, food and more, adding some exciting new contributors to the mix, including our highly regarded film critic Andy Klein. And on the first Sunday of every month, Marquee appears as an expanded stand-alone section. This past weekend, Marquee was all about music, with compelling stories on rock, jazz, classical and more.
ENTERTAINMENT
By Johnny Whiteside | December 2, 2011
You've probably seen Del Casher, sporting a yachtsman's cap as he cruises around town in his fire-engine-red sedan, and never given him a second look. But the 73-year-old musician, who operates a sound studio on Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank, is one of the most critical secret weapons in America's pop music arsenal. His credits alone are mind-boggling. “In the 1960's, I did the Hollywood music business from A to Z,” Casher said with a mischievous grin. “Played lead guitar on Gene Autry's 'Melody Ranch' TV show in the morning, and at night, Frank Zappa would hire me to sit in with the Mothers of Invention at the Whisky A Go-Go.” Casher, who arrived here from his native Indiana circa 1961, also anchored popular trio the Three Suns, was regularly featured as a soloist on “The Lawrence Welk Show,” worked as in-demand studio session player with everyone from Phil Spector to Frank Sinatra, and appeared alongside Elvis Presley in 1964's “Roustabout.” Second only to Les Paul in terms of both musical skill and technical innovation, Casher developed the portable tape delay Ecco-Fonic system, the Fender Electronic Echo Chamber and, most significantly, was the first guitarist to use and record with the wah-wah pedal, a revolutionary sound effect that altered the tone and course of rock 'n' roll.
ENTERTAINMENT
By Daniel Siegal, daniel.siegal@latimes.com | August 26, 2011
Emily Valentine might have gone to La Cañada Elementary and La Cañada High, but that doesn't mean she's your average resident of the 91011. With years of touring in a punk band, appearances on “American Idol” and “The Voice,” and yes, lots of tattoos, Valentine is already moving full steam ahead in her attempts to take over the music industry, even if she's living with her mom in quiet La Cañada Flintridge. Valentine said she doesn't mind living at home while she gears up for the next phase in her career, which kicks off when she plays her debut solo show Sept.
ENTERTAINMENT
By Terri Martin | July 8, 2011
Haight-Ashbury, rock ’n’ roll and mind-altering drugs gave rise to an unusual burst of creativity that married type designs, images and explosive color on esoteric psychedelic posters. Artists embedded in the San Francisco hippie culture designed pulsating patterns and animated text to promote integrated music, free love and LSD. David Edward Byrd jumped into this scene in Manhattan around 1968 and was catalyzed by the West Coast movement. He designed graphic art posters for rock ’n’ roll icons and events, Broadway plays, movies and TV. He shadowed the entertainment industry for decades as its link to the public with images that reached out and grabbed the viewer by the eyeballs to drag them in and ignite imaginations.
ENTERTAINMENT
By Joyce Rudolph | July 15, 2009
It’s been 40 years since Sha Na Na first started rockin’ and rollin’ after they got their big break opening for Jimi Hendrix at the Woodstock Festival. The ’50s-style band went on to co-star in the film “Grease” as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Then they landed their own television show broadcast over NBC affiliates in Burbank and in worldwide syndication from 1977 to 1981. They will be celebrating their anniversary with two shows this week in Glendale.
ENTERTAINMENT
By Eleanor Green | July 3, 2009
Warm weather, classic cars, and local rockers Misplaced Priorities brought out hundreds of locals to Music in the Park this past Sunday. The free concert series had an added bonus this week, featuring a classic car show. ?Oh man, I just love these old cars,? said Jim Gibbons of Pasadena, pointing at a 1967 Cobra Mustang. ?They just don?t make them like that anymore!? Some came for the cars, while others came for the music. Misplaced Priorities is a classic rock band from La Cañada, featuring Mandy Boesche, Jeanne Nortao, Frank Dvoracek, Steve Stathatos, Rich Myers, Craig Windsor and Tom Reynolds.
NEWS
By RUTH SOWBY | May 27, 2009
The joint was jumpin? on Saturday night at the clubhouse and it wasn?t Fats Waller doing it, it was John Carro John Carro , playing a mean Elvis Presley. The gals at the La Crescenta Woman?s Club sure know how to pick talent. And their ?Viva Fiesta Night? was no exception. Who cares if their metaphors were mixed ? Elvis songs in the midst of Mexican serapes, sombreros and sangria ? the evening was a blast! At this rate, these gals will easily have the money raised to restore their clubhouse in time for their 100th anniversary in two years.
ENTERTAINMENT
By Joyce Rudolph | July 19, 2008
The things that inspired Karl Preusser as a child are musically making their way back into his adult life. Two weeks ago, the Burbank composer completed the score for “Audie & the Wolf,” a horror, comedy and romance film that will premiere on Aug. 14 in the 2008 Downtown Film Festival — Los Angeles. Preusser, a former Glendale resident, composed the score in a 1970s rock ’n’ roll style in the tradition of “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” he said.
ENTERTAINMENT
By Joyce Rudolph | May 30, 2007
Organizers are looking to enhance the entertainment already scheduled for the city of Burbank's Fourth of July celebration after city officials announced Saturday the fireworks show was canceled because of fire danger. The entertainment team is seeking an alternative patriotic enhancement to replace the fireworks show, said Garth Nelson, the city's deputy director-recreation services. "Our goal is to present the best Fourth of July show for families to celebrate the holiday — that's our commitment," he said.