Philadelphia music has a rich and long history, spanning every style imaginable, from jazz and soul to art rock to opera to doo wop and everything else. And who better to helm a book about the city's extensive music offerings than Electric Factory founder, Live Aid/Live 8 co-creator and Cobb's Creek native Larry Magid. Dan gets back in the interviewer seat for the first time in a while to talk with Larry about the thing that drives them both: the ever expanding Philadelphia music story.
Larry tells Dan about growing up in West Philly, dances, the Uptown, and early American Bandstand (before it went national). One Saturday night changed his life when he found himself in the DJ booth with Jimmy “Cannonball” Parsons, and his already rabid appetite for music became his path. Larry talks about the oft-overlooked Atlantic City Pop Festival in 1969 (just two months before Woodstock), early concerts at the Spectrum (and why bands loved that arena so much), and how he thinks Philadelphia audiences may be the most influential audiences of the rock and roll era. They also discuss the new book of Philadelphia music history that Larry organized, covering nearly every corner of Philadelphia music over the years.
“The Philadelphia Music Book: Sounds Of A City” is out now via Camino Books, and is available wherever you buy your books. It features over a dozen contributors on a wide variety of Philadelphia music genres, and all the proceeds go to support the Philadelphia Music Alliance, an organization that creates, support and sponsor programs that enrich and strengthen Philadelphia’s musical community.
After a few weeks break, we're back with another playlist episode. Enjoy these new tracks from Philadelphia artists, and remember to check out the clickable playlist below. Go support the bands and artists you love!