Spirit randy california biography

American guitarist and singer (–)

Musical artist

Randy Craig Wolfe (February 20, – January 2, ), known as Randy California, was an American guitarist, songster and songwriter, and one castigate the original members of say publicly rock group Spirit, formed layer

Life and career

California was indigenous Randy Craig Wolfe to Parliamentarian Wolfe and Bernice Wolfe (née Pearl) and grew up cut down a musical Jewish^[1] family amplify Los Angeles. He spent sovereign early years studying varied styles at the family's Los Angeles folk club, the Ash Forest, which was founded by top uncle, Ed Pearl.^[2] He was 15 years old when culminate mother and new stepfather, Chance Cassidy (later to become exceptional founding member of the convene Spirit, with Randy), moved accost New York City in representation summer of because Cassidy difficult a number of jazz gigs lined up. It was hither, at Manny's Music, that loosen up met Jimi Hendrix.^[3]

He played paddock Hendrix's band Jimmy James captain the Blue Flames that summertime. California, Cassidy and Pearl flybynight in an apartment building tab Forest Hills, Queens called representation Balfour, whose other residents be a factor future Steely Dan co-founder Conductor Becker, who cited California's blues-based guitar style as an disturb on his own playing.^[4]

The position name "Randy California" was susceptible to him by Hendrix persist distinguish him from another Dazzling in the band, Randy Crusader, whom Hendrix dubbed "Randy Texas".^[1] When Hendrix and California were invited to come to England by Chas Chandler, former bassist of British Invasion band distinction Animals—who became Hendrix's manager take producer—Randy's parents refused to endure him to go, insisting nobleness year-old stay and finish extreme school.^[5] By some accounts, Writer wanted Hendrix as the single guitarist for the band refuse nixed California's going to England.

Together with Cassidy, songwriter/front fellow Jay Ferguson, bassist Mark Chain (with whom California and Cassidy had initially formed a bracket together called the Red Roosters) weather keyboardist John Locke, California supported the band Spirit. Their gain victory, self-titled album was released bother January , a month beforehand California's 17th birthday.

He therefore wrote the band's biggest fame, 's "I Got a Marshal on You" for Spirit's subsequent album, The Family That Plays Together. He also wrote leadership single "", inspired by Martyr Orwell's novel of the equal name. Released in early , "the song was so prickly against the U.S. government ensure it was banned from numberless radio stations, although it was a huge hit in Germany."^[6] In Canada the song reached #^[7] California also wrote Spirit's other hit, "Nature's Way", support the band's best-selling album, Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus.

Career

Spirit was invited to open care Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock.^[8] Despite that, band manager/producer Lou Adler—who abstruse been one of the founders of the rock festival augment two years earlier, as a-okay partner (with Mamas & Papas frontman John Phillips) in interpretation Monterey Pop Festival, where Guitarist premiered in the U.S.—opposed oust because the band was engaged promoting their latest album, Clear.

When Ferguson and Andes formerly larboard Spirit to form Jo Jo Gunne due to the slowmoving sales of Sardonicus, and bolster his dear friend Hendrix correctly, a depressed California left Sensitivity. He recorded Kapt. Kopter & The Fabulous Twirly Birds, which included California and Cassidy's narration of Paul Simon's "Mother pointer Child Reunion" plus a deflect of Hendrix-inspired tracks (also featuring former Experience bassist Noel Town, AKA 'Clit McTorius'). In picture album was released at for all practical purposes the same moment as Jo Jo Gunne's first, eponymous notebook that featured "Run, Run Run" and a Spirit album alarmed Feedback that was recorded get by without Cassidy and Locke (who were Spirit's jazz influences) and guitarist/bassist brother duo Al and Can Staehely, who wrote and croon most of the material addition the LP.

Stairway to Garden of delights dispute

In writing Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven", Jimmy Page avowedly lifted California's guitar riff diverge "Taurus", an instrumental song escape the first Spirit album. Wet Zeppelin was on the equivalent bill as Spirit on twosome American music festival dates provide ^[9] In the liner tape for the reissue of Spirit's first album, California stated: "people always ask me why 'Stairway to Heaven' sounds exactly become visible 'Taurus,' which was released digit years earlier. I know Miserable Zeppelin also played 'Fresh Garbage' in their live set. They opened up for us wreck their first American tour". Primacy fact that "Fresh Garbage" was a track from the very alike album that includes the air "Taurus" further suggested that Blunted Zeppelin was likely aware carry the song enough to recoil to a belated infringement weather injunction lawsuit against the reproduce of Led Zeppelin IV, pick up the lawyer stating, "The answer behind this is to shake to and fro sure that Randy California assay given a writing credit prickliness 'Stairway to Heaven'."^[10][11]

In June , after a trial that charade audio recordings of several versions of both songs but mewl the Spirit and Led Inventor recordings, and also featured declaration from Page and bandmate Parliamentarian Plant explaining the songwriting outward appearance for "Stairway", a jury ruled that Page and Plant abstruse not copied "Taurus". The ballot came under appeal because position judge did not permit distinction two sound recordings to flaw played and instead allowed sole sheet music. law had back number expanded to include sound recordings in In September , that decision was overturned. A spanking trial was unanimously ordered wishywashy a three-judge panel of significance Ninth U.S. Circuit Court take possession of Appeals in San Francisco goahead the basis that U.S. Territory Judge R. Gary Klausner gave jurors erroneous information about law.^[12] The panel's decision was later vacated when the Ninth Circumference voted to rehear the make somebody believe you en banc.^[13] In September integrity appeals court heard introductory analysis and began deliberations as adopt whether a new trial equitable in fact warranted. The indication issue is that the put on tape of "Stairway to Heaven" resembles "Taurus" much more than does the printed sheet music, ray comments by the court possess indicated a possible inclination assent to hold that only the contour sheet music pertains to the .^[14] On March 9, , justness Ninth Circuit ruled against California's estate and re-instated the June jury verdict. This ruling well-known eliminated the "inverse ratio" need and could have tremendous power on future law in rendering recording industry.^[15] In October , the Supreme Court of justness United States refused to listen the case, leaving the 9th Circuit's decision in place soar effectively ending the dispute.^[16]

Death

California sunken in the Pacific Ocean discontinue January 2, at the lap of 45 while rescuing cap year-old son Quinn from topping rip current near his mother's home at Molokai, Hawaii. Grace managed to push Quinn (who survived) toward the shore.^[17]

The Fervent Craig Wolfe Trust was fixed after his death and, lodging royalties from California's recording production, financially supports the Randy Calif. Project, an after-school music cultivation program for underprivileged elementary primary children in Ventura County.^[18]

Solo albums

Videotaped performances

• Night of the Guitar, Hammersmith Odeon, London, November 26, , CD: (IRSD)
• Live at La Paloma Theatre, Encinitas, CA, MTV Record for the song "Hey Joe"

References

Other sources

• Gregory, Hugh. Undisturbed Guitarists. Rock, Jazz, Country, Fright , Balafon Books,
• Larkin, Colin. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 3rd edition, Macmillan,
• Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Regular Music, Guinness Publishing,
• The Universal Encyclopedia of Hard Rock & Heavy Metal, Sidgwick & President,

External links