The legendary Ash Grove club in Los Angeles was founded in 1958 with a few assumptions: that music communicates across cultural barriers; that the majority of people throughout history have shared their lives, histories and hopes through music; and that people are better off for the sharing and realization of commonality. The club became one of the great bastions of live music on the West Coast during its 16-year run, presenting a who's who of seminal blues, folk, country and bluegrass musicians. The diverse audiences crossed all cultural boundaries, and the Ash Grove became inextricably linked with the politically conscious movements occurring during the turbulent 1960's.
The man behind the club's vision and operation was Ed Pearl. In 2008, Steve Rosenthal (a co-producer of the Ash Grove catalog available at Wolfgang's) went to Los Angeles to record this interview with Pearl, hoping to learn more about the storied venue's history and the about the man himself. We are proud and extremely pleased to present this recording to you, audio proof that a good man with an honest vision can create something truly timeless.
Part 1: Early life (how music and politics became inextricably linked within Pearl's worldview)
00:00 - Music in the house while growing up
00:41 - How his passion for music developed
01:14 - His first political protest (age 10 or 11)…
02:44 - …and suffering the consequences
03:33 - Joining Habonim as a teen / music as a part of his culture
05:22 - The original interdependence of music and politics
06:49 - First encounter with the socialist party / his father
Part 2: The College Years (firsts in booking, hearing folk music, and playing the guitar)
00:00 - Trying to book Pete Seeger at age 17
01:36 - Cross-over between music and politics at college
02:26 - Consequences of trying to book Pete Seeger
03:05 - First time playing the guitar
04:12 - Learning songs and history from Bess Lomax Hawes
05:00 - First hearing the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music
06:30 - Thoughts on pop music during the late 1950's / the Kingston Trio
07:41 - Living on Edwards Air Force Base and playing at square dances
Part 3: Becoming a Concert Promoter (turning a hobby into a living)
00:00 - Meeting Carmen Amaya / booking a flamenco show
02:25 - The origins of the "Folk Art Society"/ how he sold out a 700-person venue
04:07 - The opening of The Unicorn on Sunset Blvd. / Logan English and Marsha Sherman
05:35 - Making a living as a guitar teacher
06:22 - Promoting shows for free
07:00 - Sid Greenberg / getting a job booking shows
08:37 - Rolf Cahn as in instigating force behind the Ash Grove
10:25 - The initial budget for the Ash Grove