Kent Hartman's book has some interesting stories about Lisa Coleman's dad, Gary L. Coleman and Mike Melvoin, Susannah & Wendy's dad.

• Gary L. Coleman was the only child of a single mom and never knew his dad. In the 40's, he and his mom moved from Pennsylvania to his grandparents' home in Southern California. There he discovered the percussion instruments of his uncle Carson Meade Davis, who was once a Big Band musician. Gary found his life's calling.

• After college, Gary struggled to make ends meet as a public school music teacher and moonlighting musician. He and his wife raised their young kids Cole, Lisa and David in a cockroach infested duplex by the freeway. The nearby pollution was so bad it rotted the curtains off the rods. In 1964 bassist Carole Kaye, whom he gigged with occasionally gave him his big break in session work. She was making more money in one recording session than he did in a week as a teacher and gigging vibraphonist.

• Wrecking Crew member Jim Gordon (who later murdered his own mother) went on a drug-induced rant in the back of Gary's van, hanging out the door and shouting at passing cars. Gary tried his best to calm him down, but Gary's wife put her foot down and told Jim to "shut the fuck up and sit down". And he did!

• Gary played on the session for The Mamas and The Papas' cover of "Dream A Little Dream Of Me", but he and everyone else smoked one joint too many. No one could remember the lyrics. A stoned Mama Cass managed to call a local music shop and had the clerk look up the sheet music and read the lyrics over the phone.

• Mike Melvoin was Ivy-League educated, and known for being principled and fair. He once stood up to Phil Spector, after Spector tried to cheat Mike and fellow session musicians out of overtime pay. Spector went ape-sh*t and fired him. Mike was more than happy to leave because Spector was nuts *and* armed . John Lennon used his clout to smooth things over and convince Mike to finish the session with Spector.

If you're a fan of 60's LA music scene, this is a good book.

[Edited 10/15/12 9:05am]

afro75 said:

Kent Hartman's book has some interesting stories about Lisa Coleman's dad, Gary L. Coleman and Mike Melvoin, Susannah & Wendy's dad.

If you're a fan of 60's LA music scene, this is a good book.

[Edited 10/15/12 9:05am]

Gary Coleman is Lisa's dad?! Who knew?

I was reading a little about Mike Melvoin in a Tom Waits bio recently. He played with lots of people!

NDRU said:

Gary Coleman is Lisa's dad?! Who knew?

I was reading a little about Mike Melvoin in a Tom Waits bio recently. He played with lots of people!

Not the Gary Coleman on Different Strokes the other Gary Coleman a musician

Heres his website:

http://www.garylcoleman.com/index.html

To clarify: Rhoda is Garys current wife...Mary Lou Ynda is Lisa mom and she is currectly remarried as well( her last name is now Celletti)

[Edited 10/18/12 20:46pm]

Lisa used to play her father's music on her old internet radio show. Trippy, avant-garde, electronic/percussion pieces.

I miss that radio show...

afro75 said:

• After college, Gary struggled to make ends meet as a public school music teacher and moonlighting musician. He and his wife raised their young kids Cole, Lisa and David in a cockroach infested duplex by the freeway. The nearby pollution was so bad it rotted the curtains off the rods. In 1964 bassist Carole Kaye, whom he gigged with occasionally gave him his big break in session work. She was making more money in one recording session than he did in a week as a teacher and gigging vibraphonist.

Cole Coleman? R u kidding me? Who'd be mean enough to name their son Cole Coleman?

databank said:

afro75 said:

• After college, Gary struggled to make ends meet as a public school music teacher and moonlighting musician. He and his wife raised their young kids Cole, Lisa and David in a cockroach infested duplex by the freeway. The nearby pollution was so bad it rotted the curtains off the rods. In 1964 bassist Carole Kaye, whom he gigged with occasionally gave him his big break in session work. She was making more money in one recording session than he did in a week as a teacher and gigging vibraphonist.

Cole Coleman? R u kidding me? Who'd be mean enough to name their son Cole Coleman?

Cole is a girl short for Cole-Ynda read his website i gave

KemiVA said:

Lisa used to play her father's music on her old internet radio show. Trippy, avant-garde, electronic/percussion pieces.

I miss that radio show...

Lisa discussed alot during the radio show i miss it as well ....had alot of fun ... they would voice and chat as well in the chat room it was awesome...

toots said:

databank said:

Cole Coleman? R u kidding me? Who'd be mean enough to name their son Cole Coleman?

Cole is a girl short for Cole-Ynda read his website i gave

It's still mean. It's like naming ur son Kris Kristofferson, that kinda stuff.

databank said:

toots said:

Cole is a girl short for Cole-Ynda read his website i gave

It's still mean. It's like naming ur son Kris Kristofferson, that kinda stuff.

better than Jer-magesty!

databank said:

toots said:

Cole is a girl short for Cole-Ynda read his website i gave

It's still mean. It's like naming ur son Kris Kristofferson, that kinda stuff.

The old "Waldorf Salad" photo on W&L facebook page has her listed as "Debbie".

toots said:

KemiVA said:

Lisa used to play her father's music on her old internet radio show. Trippy, avant-garde, electronic/percussion pieces.

I miss that radio show...

Lisa discussed alot during the radio show i miss it as well ....had alot of fun ... they would voice and chat as well in the chat room it was awesome...

I discovered the radio show in early 2010 and got in the chat room a few times. Met some cool and interesting fans there too.

KemiVA said:

Here's a trailer for a Southern CA music documentary in the making. Gary L. Coleman's interview starts at 2:40.

http://vimeo.com/50486374

There seems to be growing media interest in The Wrecking Crew as of late. Pretty cool to learn the 'behind the scenes' stories from the musicians themselves.

(On a side note: Wow, I see who Lisa inherited her eyes from... )

[Edited 10/22/12 10:54am]

I've been meaning to pick up this book. Thanks for the added incentive!

toots said:

KemiVA said:

The old "Waldorf Salad" photo on W&L facebook page has her listed as "Debbie".

That maybe her real name and they just call her Cole for short..only that know

Her given name is Debra but she goes by Cole and took her mother's maiden name "Ynda" as her surname. So her chosen name is Cole Ynda.

Alliasan said:

I've been meaning to pick up this book. Thanks for the added incentive!

You're welcome!