Jimi Hendrix and Randy California New York 1966
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- In the summer of 1966 Jimi Hendrix started a residency at the famous Cafe Wha . Just before his first gig he met a 15 year guitarist by the name of Randy California ..... this is their story.
I saw Randy do three hours of Hendrix-style stuff in 1975 in a bar on an island. He was beyond.
Thanks for this post about Randy and Jimi. When once I asked Randy if he had no regret for not having gone to London with Jimi, he answered me : no, If I had, I would have never formed Spirit with Cass...
Randy was a great guitarist, and a great human beeing. So cool, so humble, so generous, and such a peaceful man. I was privileged to meet him several times, becoming friend with him, and also with Ed Cassidy, my drum mentor. I will always remember the day and the evening I spent with Randy and Cass at their housses in Ojai in thecearly 90's. What a treat for me who had been a fan of Spirit since I was 15 !
I was heartbroken when Randy died. we have had a conversation on the phone a few dates before the tragedy. We were supposed to meet in Paris a couple of weeks later with a tour of Spirit in France I was helping to put on. He lives France and even spoke a little french.
I was devastated, and frustrated to have never seen Spirit live - just Randy at the Jimi Hendrix Tribute concert at the Olympia in Paris in 1990.
Then Cass would leave us too... For a while I was not able to listen to Spirit, it was too painful for me, then I recovered. Every time I listen to Spirit I think of my Friends, and, amazing thing, I am still discovering new sounds, new notes, new details in the mix in their beautiful and kaleidoscopic music. Thanks you my Friends. Vive Spirit !
Thank you for your comment brother it made my day . I also spoke with Randy a few days before he died . If you go thru the videos on the channel you will find a good few spirit videos . Peace Mike
Amazing memories bra, thank you for the sharing! Don’t let them memories fade, tell them whenever you can, because there are people out there that appreciate it!❤
What is not said here is that Cafe Wha owner Manny Roth who gave Hendrix his big life changing break was the uncle of Van Halen’s David Lee Roth!!
Great to see this story. I went to the Cafe Wha? in 1966 to see the other act on the bill, who was managed by my band's manager. Jim and Randy in Jimi James and the Blue Flame on a small basement club stage blew me away. A few years later, I saw Spirit at the Cafe Wha? and a year after that, my band opened for Spirit in Colorado on a tour. Been a long term fan of both Jimi and Randy! Randy and the band were great to hang with.
Spirit will be indelibly etched upon the history of music, perhaps not quite as the Giants they were, but never forgotten nonetheless. It does not surprise me to see what an incredible influence Hendrix was upon Randy. Hendrix impacted the world like no other guitarist has since. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to listen to such great music from such great artists.
Sprint will always be remembered by future musicians. The failure to be popular to the normies won’t matter.
I'm from so Cal, close to the area where @Spirit were active back in that era.
There were a unique outfit who lured fans with a catchy and addicting sound & attraction.
Randy was one of the only guitar players I ever saw do three part harmonies live during his solos using an Echoplex. The only other person I saw do that live in concert was Jeff Beck at Winterland on the Rough and Ready tour, the first tour from the second Jeff Beck group. God bless you Randy. We miss you and we'll never forget you. Thanks for all the joy you gave us, for which we remain eternally grateful
Spirit hit the charts in January 69. It never got that high but should have. I loved this song the first time I heard it!
Randy C is one of my favorite songwriter/performers.I got to meet him briefly after an excellent show in a small club in the early 80's.That is my second best music memory.I also met and spoke with Roy Buchanan. He was showing me his playing techniques on his classic 53 Telecaster. Now that is a memory for all time.
Randy was an amazing performer and guitarist . You might like our other two reviews of the channel of kapt kopter and Sardonicus .
Was it a show in Los Angeles? I saw them in the early 80's also. My friend and I were invited in to the after show dinner. I sat right next to Ed and his wife. Got to met everyone, Randy was extremely cool (a bit spacey) and we got into a discussion about the desert of all things. I also managed to piss off Mark Andes when I asked him what he'd been up to (his reply was "I'm playing in a band called Heart, you ever hear of them?" he was being facetious). We also saw Ed and Randy on their odd Fabulous Twirlybirds album tour in Hollywood and once again got to meet the band (Ed and Randy anyway).
he died a hero
I would make an effort to see Roy Buchanan every time he came through the Denver/Boulder area. My girlfriend and I chatted with him between sets at the Olympic Ballroom (a converted bowling alley?) in Boulder. He was more interested in my girlfriend... but then, everyone was. It was so sad that he took his life.
@@geraldchristensen2826 Saw Roy twice. First time in Albert's Hall, TO. He supposedly "hung himself" in a GA jail. Doubtful.
I think this was a great introduction of Randy’s musical influences and very accurate, thank you for making this possible. I miss my cousin and his music so much, long live Randy’s influence on musicians everywhere! He was a sweet and gentle soul and a good man and father.
He was an inspiration to me , yes a kind and gentle man .One of the purposes of this channel is to try and bring Randys music to as many people as I can . Thank you 🙏
California drowned in the Pacific Ocean in 1997 at the age of 45 while rescuing his 12-year-old son Quinn from a rip current near his mother's home at Molokai, Hawaii. He managed to push Quinn (who survived) toward the shore.
Yes, I remember reading about this when it happened. Very sad ending but he died a hero. An epic life!
Wow, terrible . I saw spirit at a national guard armory around 1976.
So sad, what an awesome dad
So sorry to hear.
Well that would make him a true hero. 🌠
A moment in time, musical history, gone forever. Both men gone too soon. What a story.
So glad I found this clip. I loved the group Spirit. To read and hear Randy Wolfe/California and the Hendrix story is amazing. I never knew any of that we use to play I got a line on you in my first band in the 70s. And I never knew this story. I'm sorry to read about Randy's death at my 46 drowned while savin his son from Rip Current in Hawaii ver sad. Loved Spirit late 60 early 70. Real music!
A simple twist of fate kept Randy from being part of the Jimi Hendrix experience. It’s a tough call as a parent to know if you should let your 15-year-old kid go alone to England with some strange dudes it might ruin his whole life or keep them in New York
Great story. Didn't know there was a connection between Randy California and Jimi. Spirit was a really good band. Randy would have been considered one of rocks greats, had he had more time on earth to develop his craft. He was miles ahead of others in the rock world back in the 60s, like Hendrix and Zappa.
Be doing a podcast soon about Randy and his life .
Didn't get into spirit until nature's way ,how prolific is that now with what's happening on our earth now uncanny
...love ..Tampa jam..and ..Capt Kopter...Great all round musician.RIP Randy California ✌️
Amazing story. Love Spirit and Randy Wolfe (Randy California) Saw him live in Huntington Beach at the Golden Bear a very talented guitar player and musician. RIP Randy and I hope you and Jimi are Rock'n the universe with your amazing music.
Would that have been around 1976 ?
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 No it was late 80's I was home on Leave my parents lived not too far from the club on PCH. Saw Donavon a couple weeks later. 2 bands or performers I liked growing up in Santa Ana Ca.
Awesome! Just like Randy's talent and music.
Jeff " Skunk " Baxter of Steely Dan and Doobies was a 17 year old kid who played bass for a few weeks for Jimmy James and the Flames. He met him at Manny's Music . 65 -66.
damn! thank you Richard K! wow. I never knew that about Jimi and Jeff Baxter. I've been a Jimi appreciator since 1970, have known and do know tons of things about Jimi's life,ect, but I never knew this before now.thank you so much man. diggin the new release of Hendrix Live in Maui !! peace and stay groovy,and stay Free,while yer reelin in da years!! ha!
In an interview with Randy he said he's heard Jeff "skunk" Baxter make this claim, but that he doesn't remember Jeff ever playing with them.
Nobody has corroborated that.
He's been known to tell a tale or two.
@@mr.goodenough3796there is a video here on You tube of Jeff "Skunk" Baxter playing with Randy California and a shitload of other guitarist.
I was able to speak with Randy twice at shows when I happened upon him walking through the crowd. He was humble and down to earth and his band, 'Spirit', put out some mind-blowing music. Like many from the era, their sound was unique to them alone.
We saw them play in 1979 at The Center Stage in Canton, MI. After the show we were in the lobby getting ready to leave and Randy and Ed came walking out. They hung out with the crowd, chatted with people and signed autographs.
@@NoviJimB Yup. Really friendly guys. They put on a great show too!
@@obbor4 They did 'Hey Joe' and 'All Along The Watchtower' as a Hendrix tribute, which was really cool. The venue was basically a really big bar. There were tables right in front of the stage. Randy walked out onto one and grabbed someone's beer bottle and played slide with it.
@@NoviJimB He did the Hendrix stuff the four times that I saw them too. Back when he was fifteen, Jimi had wanted him to accompany him to England with Chas Chandler where Jimi went on to become the legend that he became. Randy's mom nixed the idea though and, of course, Randy and his step dad, Ed went on to form Spirit. Ed Cassidy had quite a varied career. He played with many of the jazz greats beginning in the late thirties, when he himself was a young teen. Randy apparently was a Raiders fan as he approached me while walking through the crowd at a festival in San Bernardino saying that he liked my number twelve Raiders jersey. Every Raiders fan ever loved Kenny Stabler. He wasn't the only one who made comments to me about Snake that day. I miss all of those people and those times. Spirit was like no a other band. A thing that could be said about many a great act back then. 'The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus is one of the greatest albums ever produced!
@@obbor4 Here's a great interview with Randy where he talks about meeting Jimi at Manny's music store and joining the band and about being asked to go to England. Just came across it the other day. It's buried later on in this video that starts with an Ed Caddidy interview. ua-cam.com/video/pD5XxsmxIkM/v-deo.html 'Twelve Dreams...' might be the most underrated album ever, as far as the general public goes.
I remember hitchhiking to Hartford Ct. to see Spirit play way back in 1970 great show & I saw Jimi open for the Young Rascals in Central Park in 67 ?.maybe 68 ?......I never knew the 2 guys knew each other nonetheless played together.........great story,thanks for the telling of it. peace,pj
Awesome! I am more amazed at Randys life now. What an awesome enviorment to be raised in. So Cool. And to have Jimi as a mentor. Great story.
Wonderful Informative piece here. So sad that there are NO TAPES of Jimmy James and the Blue Flame...Or Photos...Or Video....
Ohh....but there is!
@@paulceniceros5514 Where???
No
Great video - thank you for the very interesting summary of Jimi & Randy's early days.
Nice. Sad, but worthy of the listening. TFTS
Fascinating, thank you - listening this afternoon on the 50th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's untimely demise.
I have to say- Hendrix departed this Earth but there will never be a demise.
He lives.
Randy and Jimi both, and too many to mention here. Not many get a gold watch after 50 years for playing rock and roll.
I discovered Spirit only recently. Fresh garbage was the first I heard. I knew a bit from Wikipedia but super happy to find this whilst eating my meal. Thanks for the vid 👍 will be watching the others too now
The lead guitarist Randy California is the profile picture .. The best player I ever saw .
7 faces of dr sardonicus by spirit
@@terrychaffee2888 Should be 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, fyi!
Easily the best, and most accurate, accounting of the Jimi Hendrix/Randy California connection. Randy California was so underrated. So great to have somebody illustrate the influences that the "Ash Grove" had on Randy's musical development. I have always thought that Randy was the greatest all-around guitarist. He could play like a virtuoso in any style of music. The only mistake, and it's minor, was that the family moved from New York to Topanga Canyon. They lived in Santa Monica before going to Topanga Canyon. SPIRIT started out as SPIRITS REBELLIOUS , and then changed their name to just SPIRIT. They would play Monday nights at the "Ash Grove" in 1967, until they were eventually signed by Lou Adler, but that's another story.
Thank you Bruce , it’s been a while since I heard from you man , hope you ok . Thank you for your comments that means a lot 🙏
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 Thanks pal. I'm OK, but this living under "house arrest" is getting old. One last tidbit. Randy and Jimi last got together on July 4, 1970 at the 2nd "Atlanta Pop Festival". They jammed in Jimi's dressing room. Boy, would I like to see or hear that !
hey bruce how are you doing
i so agree with you bruce. i have been listening lately to "7 faces of dr sardonicus" and it has hit me again, how powerful, how innovative, and awesome playing of california (wolf) and rest of group.... omg, one of the greatest rock bands ever. i lived many years in ojai, california, and would occasionally talk to randy and also john locke. saw randy one night playing solo in ojai and during his break, i asked him if he could show me the chords to "natures way" i never forgot and still play that song and turn people on to that song. one of the highlights of my life actually. thank you randy and spirit. love you all
Randy’s first band was the Red Roosters in 1965
Thank you Mike it's Great !
i either read somewhere or saw it on film that RANDY did a KILLER HENDRIX imitation...probably the best of anyone!
Joe Randy would have carried on Jimis legacy if he had the breaks .
Thank you! Wonderful story well told!
Great story of two Guitar Greats
Many many thanks for putting this piece of Rock history together. I have been a huge Spirit fan since I learned of them at college starting in 1976. Spirit is my go-to band to relieve my anxiety and put me in a better mood. Does anyone know where Randy got his interest in environmental issues? So many references to living in harmony with Nature.
I think Randy always had those interests from very young . Have you caught all the Spirit releases since his death ? They are stunning .
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 I read shortly after his death, that his family was in possession of more than 300 songs Randy had recorded but not released. I do have the Cosmic Smile CD but nothing else since his tragic death.
@@andyschnell58 there has been many albums released since his death . All fantastic . Check out Spirit topic on UA-cam they have many on there buddy .
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 YAY. Many thanks for the information. I am still hoping some day a audio file from 1966 will surface.
@@andyschnell58 if you can join us all at Randy California tribute on Facebook. Great group and great people
GREAT STUFF.!!! JAMES EAGLE.
Thanks for sharing, I did not have all the story, but I know more thanks to you.
Great info. Learned a lot. I loved the music of both of these guys.
(David V) Spirits' 12 Dreams & Kapt Kopter impressd me SO much..Back then there was no internet so I hadnt heard this story.Very few pics.Thanks for sharing.
There is a review of kapt kopter on the channel and there is an expanded 12 dreams out soon
Wow! I never knew this. I loved Spirit. I still listen to the Spirit album and the Family that plays together. Saw them live in Pittsburgh when I was a young hombre
More Spirit to come
Rich O'Neill - was that show at the Syria Mosque, by chance? Or maybe at the Stanley Theater?
@@Steevee14 I honestly don’t remember. That was a long time ago
The movie "Hendrix 2000" Hendrix in one of his interviews,around 11 minutes, he mention about Randy and Spirit. Check it out,
Thanks for the History on Randy, great post!
Nice job on this. Thanks
WOW - This is SO Great ! Thank You Very Much.
Awesome video. Thank you!
Didn't know any of this - great story
I saw Albert King at the Ashgrove on Melrose at Crescent Heights - 1970? You could literally hang out with your elbows on the stage. Albert would take single notes to infinite expansion.
Good old Linda Keith & props to Richards as well....🎸
Sad end to Randy California's life. He was a great talent. He wrote the song "Taurus" which strikingly sounds similar to 'Stairway to Heaven" which Jimmy Page wrote. At least the intro of the song.
you mean "Stairway"sounds like "Taurus'.....
@@joebloggs4754 yea..
@curbozer Boomer yup but we all know they "borrowed" it from them anyways..
@curbozer Boomer and...it should have,,,Page and Plant were big fans of them and went to shows alot ,,,
There was nothing sad about his end.
He died a heros death, should we all have such a demise.
Just four people haven´t been really tripped to this video.
Yes so sad of randys death when iheard .. afew years ago iremember him telling this story of how his perants wouldnt let him go on tour with jimi az of age. So sad he couldnt of been more experienced.. 😷🙏🎼
never realized Randy was primed to become Neal Schon to Hendrix’s Santana. Seems the timing was extra-special, as far as NYC overlap, as the two guitarists headed in opposite directions, geographically
i love that!
Great story.
If you would like to see Randy channel Jimi - just youtube Spirit - Natures Way - at the Bottom line.. Namaste to Randy and of course, JImi; may their spirits forever soar in our hearts and minds, and in the way we treat one another...
phenomenal vid! wish there were photos or footage of JJ&BF :(
Thank you buddy . There might be some pics , I just couldn’t locate them in time for the video . Randy did say there was a tape of one of the gigs but it’s never surfaced .
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 There are no known existing pictures of Jimi James & The Blue Flames. There was a recording made of Jimi and Randy, backing John Hammond, at the "Cafe Au Go Go" in NYC. Randy had an acetate of it, which was stolen after he died. Recordings of the acetate exist.
@@brucepates8129 Randy did mention that way back .
@Bruce Pates Can I reach out to you to ask you about this tape?
Brilliant
Awww, Mom! My personal take on Randy and Led Zep was that I liked Spirit better. Yes, Jimmy Page was the bigger artist. They were each from my era. But I have a few Zep songs, and whole albums of Spirit. As good as Zep was, they stole most of their core material. More so than most blues bands. Spirit always sounds fresh, and true.
The guitarist for a famous 'girl rock band' told me they played with Spirit one weekend. I'm saying this because it's funny, but she said Randy hit on everyone in the band - and he smelled bad! I guess that's rock and roll... (I toured for 5 years. I may have stunk up the stage, but I hope I never smelled bad! But on the road, those things happen)
So good had to sub ,even though I already have too many. ....great stuff man..
Thankyou
Grand Funk Railroad and Randy California Libelous BALD HEAD DADDY DRUMMER I met them in HOUSTON TEXAS when I was 16 Years Old !(^* I owned a 1947 1947 Indian Chief Motorcycle . In those days Cops didn't giva damn if a 17 years old kid rode from Benton Arkansas to Houston Texas to see Johnny Winters & Bandey Calafornia's Daddy Balded Head the Sam as my Daddy who was still in Prison since 1949, He got out in 1978 and tried to ride my Indian Chief and Fell Off, LOL I had to get Parts from Sam The Indian guy in California, Whitter? Concard boluvard. I was 5foot and tall weight 12ve years old.
oh, to be back in Topanga Canyon , as it was…
🌈❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👌👌👌🌹🌹🌹🌹🌈
Wow, learnt a lot here! Is there any live recordings available of Jimi and the Blue Flames in NY in '66? Have one lp called "In The Beginning" starting with the song Hey LeRoy but no information on it except Jimi on Guitar.
No recordings , tho Randy did have a tape . Maybe it will turn up .
I actually like Randy California's guitar play better than Hendrix. Not saying California is better, I just like his playing more.
There was a good band called The Things who were playing at the same time as Jimmy James and The Blue Flames at Cafe Wha. What happened to them ?
Don’t them mate
The Randy California quote at the end - where is it from? An interview, a book?
He said it to me .
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 Jimi and Randy both read The Urantia Book. I've been researching musicians who read the book and how it influenced their lyrics and so forth. Mark Andes mentioned to me that many of them (musicians he worked with) were reading the book. Did he ever mention it to you? I wonder if Jimi or some other musician might have introduced him to it, like Cass. I've talked with a few people who read The Urantia Book who've told me they met Randy in Hawaii and that they enjoyed discussing the book.
Is Spirit in the Rock and Roll hall of fame ?
No
Are there any recordings of Jimi and Randy playing together? Would love to hear them on youtube.
There isn’t any . Randy said he had a tape , but where that is who knows ?
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 If his recordings were left intact after he drowned. There's a chance that a family member could take it and have them remastered. But someone probably thought of that and couldn't find it.
I know the Hendrix estate has boxes of tapes that could be converted to vinyl and\or cd's. Maybe........
@@1blastman Since Randys death , most of his tapes recordings have been looked over . So far nothing ? But look at the recent Randy playing with Deep Purple gig that surfaced ... you never know .
Didn't Ed Cassidy have a club in NYC at the time?
No Cassidy would have been about 16 at the time .
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 There goes your credibility down the toilet. Ed Cassidy was Randy's stepfather and was born in 1923.
@@KP11520 😂😂😂😂 my bad i was tired and thought it read David Cassidy who was in fact at that time 16 . Only a short while ago I was talking to Randys sister about that time in New York , how Walter Becker was a neighbour in Queens and Randy giving him guitar lessons . As for credibility lol check out the Spirit album Rock and Roll planet I’m on the credits so have a few shreds left 😂
@@classicrockalbumreviews19 Now that's a MUCH better answer! LOL Get some sleep! Confusing the Partridge Family with Spirit might cause the Psych department to do a full eval. Gotta laugh at ourselves. Imagine Randy doing "I think I Love You"? NOPE!
That's not a real pic of Manny's music store
This is the first I heard of Randy California, it still means nothing to after 50 years.
Crash Landing
?
neunzehn-sixtiesix that's half german
?
Jimi should of ran from chas n weighd his options
Don't know much, do. you?
I read somewhere that Randy also gave lessons to a neighbor in NY named Walter Becker. Can someone verify?
Yes Walter was a neighbour , Randy taught him blues guitar