Sorry that I have been a bit absent but I decided to give my knee a little extra rest
after the surgery. I hope you are all doing well and in the mood to maybe re-live
a bit of a teenage summer.
I know all our thoughts have turned to the fall season but here in Southern Californiathere are a few summer things that last well into the fall. One of these "summer"
things is time at the ocean. There is something very special about the Pacific Ocean in
the fall. And, another one of the "summer" things that continues is The Beach Boys
music. I think that no matter where we live when we hear The Beach Boys music on
the radio we all become a teenager again.
It was a fun surprise to find that there is a monument in honor of The Beach Boys
childhood home in Hawthorne, California where it all began. It is located at the former
location of the Wilson home where Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson grew up. The home
was demolished in the 1980's to make way for a Freeway.
I think when people hear The Beach Boys music they immediately think of the
Southern California lifestyle...surfing, beach parties, beach volleyball, etc. Their music
was really responsible for people all over the world imagining a lifestyle of fun at the
beach. Believe it or not, they have been performing for 50 years!
Bricks were donated by family, friends and fans and the bricks are engraved with the
donors names.
The monument also features a large white stone carving of The Beach Boys carrying a
surfboard and was inspired by the Surfer Girl album cover...
A bronze historical plaque is also part of the monument and marks the California
Registered Historical Landmark #1041...
There are also six gold records each with the name of the original Beach Boys.
Brian Wilson...
Carl Wilson...
Dennis Wilson...
Mike Love...
Al Jardine...
And David Marks...
Brian, Carl and Dennis were brothers and Mike and Al are their cousins.
David Marks was a neighbor who lived across the street.
It was 50 years ago this past Labor Day that they recorded their first tape which
started an image of California as a place of sun, surf and romance. Can you believe
it has been 50 years!!!
Construction of the monument was thanks to Scott Wilson, Dennis Wilson's adopted
son.
I happened to have worked with The Beach Boys a few times over the years. I also
attended one of Mike Love's weddings. I can't remember if it was Mike's fourth or
fifth or sixth wedding. But I do remember that dj and television host Wolfman Jack
officiated!
I would love to know if you were a Beach Boys fan and if you have any memories of
their music in your life. Do you know the lyrics to their songs when they come on the
radio and do you still sing along? Did their music spark your imagination of a certain
lifestyle when you were a kid? Maybe a teenage crush?
I have to admit that when I drive along Pacific Coast Highway and see all the surfers,
The Beach Boys music still goes through my mind...
Coming in at the end of the day...
And the birds are glad to have the beach all to themselves again!
I also had the pleasure of spending a little time again with Terri of La Dolfina and her
husband Chris. We were able to catch a lovely Malibu sunset and share some good
conversation and celebrate Terri's birthday.
 |
| Restaurant Floor |
It's always such a treat to see them and be sure to visit La Dolfina to catch up on Terri's
new antique store, The House of Hoarders. I hope she had a fun birthday weekend!
I hope you have a great week. Now I'm going to have fun catching up on your blogs.
