Through Song and Story, ‘Live From Laurel Canyon’ Brings Back a Glorious Musical Era

You’ve no doubt heard the music that emerged from the legendary neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills, but maybe you haven’t heard the stories behind how Laurel Canyon came to house artists whose music continues to inspire generations 50 years on.

“Live from Laurel Canyon” takes you back to 1965 when young, driven, and talented budding songwriters from across the U.S. and Canada converged on Los Angeles determined to change the look and sound of American popular music.

“Live from Laurel Canyon” performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday March 4, at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale as part of the hotel’s “Under the Stars” concert series. This performance features three vocalists (Brian Chartrand, Kip Fox, Meridith Moore) as well as a backing band of Arizona’s finest musicians including Adam Armijo, Todd Chuba, Alex Kyhn and Shea Marshall.

The Laurel Canyon story starts with The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and The Doors, who all took up residency there.  The area had always been a haven for artists who loved the rural feel of the canyon and its close proximity to the clubs and venues located on Sunset Boulevard and West Hollywood.  The musicians carefully blended the passion and simplicity of folk and the look, feel, and attitude of rock ‘n’ roll as employed by their British counterparts like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.  They carefully crafted a new genre of music, Folk Rock, and put the music industry on its head with their music, style, attitude, and occasional antics on and off the stage.

Other Canyon residents included James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and Carole King, artists who helped define the modern singer/songwriter in the early ‘70s.  Through narrative and song, “Live from Laurel Canyon” explains how country music began seeping into popular music in the mid-‘70s and influenced artists like Jackson Browne, America, and The Eagles.  The Eagles went on to be one of the biggest selling acts of all time.

“Live from Laurel Canyon” shares a decade’s worth of stories through song and narration – a “behind the music” approach to this an impressive catalogue of songs.

You come away from the show having not just been thoroughly entertained, but with knowledge.

For example, did you know that before the Eagles officially formed, they were Linda Ronstadt’s backing band? Did you know that David Crosby discovered Joni Mitchell in a small club in Florida?  Did you know that James Taylor heard Carole King’s “You’ve Got A Friend” one night at the famous music venue The Troubadour and ran home to learn it? They both released that song and they both won Grammys for it.

For more: www.hyattscottsdale.tix.com.