West Coast music photos

Here is the final batch of music photos from my US trip, taking in some of the excellent places we went to in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
We visited several blues venues in LA, thanks to tips from local blues fan Allen 'Charmin' Larman, ranging from backyard juke joints to established clubs. First, here are a couple from Bell's Blues Workshop, which is based in the garage of Franklin Bell in south LA. This is the house band.

Featured singers included Broadway, who played with Georgie Fame's band when he was based in the UK as a GI in the early sixties.

Also singing at Bell's was Mississippi Bert.

We went on to the Menlo Club where another fine band backed a number of singers, including the excellent 'Sir' Stan Griggs.

Another star at the Menlo was Jackie Jackson.

Also putting on a great soul act was Gary 'Dap' Gibson.

The third club we visited was the Pure Pleasure Club, which was packed. The host there was soul/blues singer Darryl 'Duffy' Glenn.

Another popular singer there is Louisiana born Bobby Love.

Another great blues singer was James Miller.

It was a treat to see Walter Saulsberry, a member of The Penguins for over 40 years, sing Earth Angel.

On to San Francisco now where we caught up with soul man Freddie Hughes doing his regular spot at the Royal Cuckoo Lounge, backed by Chris Burns on Hammond. Freddie's biggest hit was Send My Baby Back from 1968.

Here's one of me with Freddie.

Our last gig in San Francisco was at the Chapel, a former church, where we saw the return of the Flamin' Groovies with original member Cyril Jordan. Here are a few photos.

The support act at the gig was San Francisco folk/rock recording artists Kelley Stoltz.