This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Harvey Kubernik.
Harvey Kubernik, an active music journalist for more than 40 years, is the author of eight books, including “Turn Up The Radio,” “Rock, Pop and Roll in Los Angeles 1956-1972.” The tome captures the flavor of the L.A. music and radio scene at a unique moment in time.
Kubernik’s book features hundreds of rare and previously unpublished photographs and images of memorabilia, highlighting dozens of iconic bands and musicians, including the Doors, the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, CSN, the Monkees, the Rolling Stones, Ike and Tina Turner, Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, Ritchie Valens, Sam Cooke, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Thee Midniters, Barry White, Sonny and Cher.
“Turn Up the Radio!” reveals the studio musicians, background vocalists, songwriters, producers, and engineers who helped propel the Los Angeles rock and pop music scene to such a legendary status.
Bones Howe, Barney Kessel, Hal Blaine, B. J. Baker, Merry Clayton, Jack Nitzsche, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Jim Keltner, Bobby Womack, Kim Fowley, Bruce Botnick, Dave Gold, and Stan Ross are some of the names recognized for their crucial contributions to the music created and produced in the recording studios of Los Angeles.
The book also pays tribute to the DJs who brought the music of Los Angeles to fans throughout Southern California—and, ultimately, the world—including Art Laboe, Dave Hull, Robert W. Morgan, the Real Don Steele, Jim Ladd, Dave Diamond, Elliot Mintz, and Dick Clark. Their dedication to the music they played at such iconic radio stations as KHJ, KFWB, KRLA, KMET, and KLOS was critical to the development of popular music.