Scott McKenzie RIP

Scott McKenzie, the man whose record San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair) formed the background music for the summer of love in 1967, has died aged 73. Born Philip Blondheim, Scott teamed up with John Philips (later part of the Mamas and Papas) and two others in the late 50s to form a doowop group, the Abstracts. This group became the Smoothies and recorded a couple of singles for Decca before McKenzie and Philips joined Dick Weissman to form the Journeymen, who recorded a number of albums and singles for Capitol.

After Philips formed the Mamas and Papas, Scott turned down an invitation to join them, but his friendship with Philips paid off as he wrote and co-produced San Francisco and played guitar on the record. It was a smash, reaching number four in the US and number one in the UK. Scott followed it up with Like An Old Time Movie, also written by Philips, and an album The Voice Of Scott McKenzie (see photo). After a second album - Stained Glass Morning - he gave up recording, but joined a re-formed Mamas and Papas in 1986. He retired in 1998. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bch1_Ep5M1s