FYI
Looking Back
This month we take a look back at San Diego-related musicians, actors, artists, and others in the arts that we lost in 2023, with In Memoriam We also congratulate the latest San Diego-based musicians to score Gold, Platinum (and Silver) RIAA sale awards and spotlight the upcoming Pacific Records Fest 20th Anniversary show at the Music Box on January 7.
2023 SAN DIEGO IN MEMORIAM
Here’s a look back at those we lost in the music and arts community in 2023. They will be missed.
January 29 Louise Harrison (91), sister of Beatle George Harrison
February 09 Burt Bacharach (94), iconic songwriter
February 13 Dane Terry (67), harmonica player in the Cadillac Wreckers, Plow, Champions, A 5th of Blues
February 15 Raquel Welch (82), actress, icon
February 16 Otis Barthoulameu (O), guitar Olivelawn, Reeve Oliver, Fluf, producer, photographer, tech
February 16 Lawrence Asher (74), bassist and DJ, the Michelle Rose Band
February 19 Alo Bandz (Caesar Lopez) (22), rapper
February 19 Wayne Foster (88), band leader
February 23 Cesar Garcia (47), promoter, producer, manager; the Bassics, Marujah, etc.
March 10 Patrick Padilla, guitarist, Red Dye No. 5
Roland Fargo “Rolly” Crump
Roland Fargo “Rolly” Crump (91), Disney legend, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians; designer of the Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Adventureland Bazaar. Designed Ernie Ball string packaging and designed psychedelic posters in the early and mid-1960s, including several for the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band.
March 14 Bobby Caldwell (71), soul and R&B icon, “What You Won’t Do for Love,” songwriter for Boz Scaggs, Neil Diamond, Chicago, Amy Grant, Al Jarreau, etc.
March 22 Tom Leadon (70), Mudcrutch, Silver, “Wham Bang Shang a Lang”
March 24 Dustin Lothspeich (40), Old Tiger, Sound Diego
May 04 Paul Bloom (76), television news icon
May 06 Bob Downie/aka Bo (100), guitarist, duo with Louie Martinez, guitar restorer
May 17 Carey Driscoll (72), promoter of the AMSD Concert Series
May 20 Sammy Warren, bassist, guitarist Gary Wilson & the Blind Dates, the Grotesques
DFX’s David & Douglas Farage. Photo by Harold Gee.
June 27 David Farage, guitarist DFX2, the Sidewinders, covered by the Farmers
June 30 Rick Froberg (55), guitarist in Pitchfork, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Obits
July 18 Dillon Chow (43), guitarist Mellow Tonin’ Music LLC
August 12 Mike Broward, guitarist in Koko Loco, Stars in the Water, Crystal Pistol, the Euphoria Brass Band
September 16 Don Balestrieri (86), accordion virtuoso, founder of Ars Nova Publications, Music Graphics, and Music Graphics Press.October 20 Robert Bush (64), music journalist
November 05 Jeff Steiber (52), guitarist
November 13 Tom Azarello (89), jazz bassist
December 22 Mark Schmidt (aka Reverend Stickman), guitarist, songwriter
SAN DIEGO GOLD & PLATINUM 2023
Jason Mraz
Here are the San Diego area musicians who scored Gold (500,000) and Platinum (1,000,000) sales awards from the RIAA, with certification dates. Bonus! Blink 182 also did very well in England this year: Silver (60,000), Gold (100,000), and Platinum (300,000).
RIAA / United States
10/06 Switchfoot: Beautiful Letdown (3 X P)
08/17 Slightly Stoopid: “Closer to the Sun” (P)
08/10 Jason Mraz: “I’m Yours” (13 X P)
08/10 Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat: “Lucky” (4 X P)
08/10 Jason Mraz: We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things (4 X P)
05/11 Slightly Stoopid: “2 A.M.” (P)
BPI / United Kingdom
10/06 Blink 182: “First Date” (G)
09/29 Blink 182 – “The Rock Show” (G)
08/11 Blink 182: “Always” (S)
08/04 Blink 182: Greatest Hits (3XP)
02/10 Blink 182: “Dammit” (S)
Honorary RIAA Mention
09/13 Pearl Jam: “Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town” (G)
09/13 Pearl Jam: “Daughter” (G, P)
06/28 Jay Z & Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind” (9 X P)
03/10 Alicia Keys: “Girl On Fire” (7 X P)
03/10 Alicia Keys: “If I Ain’t Got You” (6XP)
03/10 Alicia Keys & Usher: “My Boo” (5 X P)
02/14 Alicia Keys: “No One”
PACIFIC RECORDS FEST JANUARY 7!
Point Loma-based Pacific Records celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a special multimedia show at the Music Box on Sunday, January 7. Helmed by CEO Brian Witkin, the label’s artists have scored numerous successes including SDMA’s (Jonny Tarr, Sandollar, the Tourmaliners, etc.), #1 Spotify / Itunes Chart Placements (Shane Hall, Lindsay Perry, etc.) and Late Night TV (O-Town on Late Night with James Corden, etc). The show will put a spotlight on Pacific Records current roster, with appearances from a dozen of the label’s artists including izzi delan, Shane Hall, Manual Scan, The Moonjacks, Kela Sako, Sandollar, Seawall Prophet, Slack Key Ohana, the Spice Pistols, Jonny Tarr, the Tourmaliners, and Sean Witkin, plus surprise guests. The show is all ages, with an early run time of 4–9 p.m.
“My favorite thing about Pacific Records is that they are a homegrown San Diego label,” said multi-instrumentalist Jonny Tarr. “We don’t have too many record companies here and I feel that they are the vanguard of San Diego music. Something to be proud of.”
Drummer Henry Ortiz of Sandollar concurs. “We’re excited to be surrounded by our fellow San Diego artists and musicians,” he said. “San Diego is full of talented performers, so an event dedicated to showcasing this (fact) makes us feel proud to be from here. We have some new songs to debut, so we’re stoked for that as well. It’s gonna be an awesome show.”
Tarr also plans to debut new music. “I am excited to hear the new songs through the awesome sound system at Music Box,” he said. Meanwhile, guitarist Deven Berryhill of the Tourmaliners will be taking advantage of the multimedia aspect of the show. “Because our music is mostly instrumental, we plan on having a great video presentation coordinated with our songs.”
For Tarr, the day’s musical camaraderie is one of the event’s biggest attractions. “I am most looking forward to seeing all my label mates perform all in one place,” he said. “I have only seen a few of them live but I will be able to catch all of them in one day.”
https://www.ticketweb.com/event/pacific-records-fest-music-box-tickets/13674508?