Eddie Rubin

Last updated
Eddie Rubin
Birth nameEdward Donald Rubin
Born Cleveland, Ohio, United States
DiedLos Angeles, California, US
Genres Rock and roll, jazz, pop, R&B, blues, folk
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion

Edward Donald Rubin was an American jazz and rock drummer, and composer. His repertoire included rock, jazz, pop, R&B, folk, and blues, although he had a preference for jazz drumming. Rubin is best known for his performances and recordings during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s with artists Neil Diamond, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Johnny Rivers, Dexter Gordon, Ornette Coleman, Paul Revere & The Raiders and Don Randi.

Contents

Career

1960s

In Los Angeles in early 60s, Rubin performed and recorded with Don Randi, a pianist, keyboard player, and composer who moved to Los Angeles from New York City. [1] In 1962 Rubin was working with Randi as a band member of the Don Randi Trio, and together they recorded the album “Last Night.” “Last Night” was recorded on December 14, 1962, at Sherry's, a club in Hollywood California, and released in December 1963. [2] [3] Rubin also would sometimes perform with Don Randi in Las Vegas. In 1963, they played at venues such as the Kon Tiki lounge at The Castaways, a Polynesian themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip. [4]  

Later that same year, in 1963, Rubin was contacted by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Johnny Rivers, who made an offer to Rubin to play what was initially thought to be just a two or three-night gig with him. Rivers had relocated to Los Angeles from Baton Rouge Louisiana around 1961. After a couple years without much success making it as a singer and musician, Rivers was asked to perform at Gazzarri's, an Italian restaurant and music venue. Gazzarri's house band was leaving and Bill Gazzarri, the venue owner, had no other band at the time to replace them. Rivers accepted Gazzarri's offer to perform temporarily until a new house band was found. However, Rivers did not have anyone to perform with and needed to find other musicians to put a band together. Rivers met and knew Eddie Rubin from sitting in and watching his performances with the Don Randi Trio at Sherry's Lounge, and decided to contact him to be his drummer. Rubin accepted River's offer. Eddie Rubin and Rivers, with no time to rehearse, performed together as a duo (just guitar and drums) at Gazzarri's and word quickly got out. [5] [6] In the book Straight Whisky, author Erick Quisling states, “The two men set up their instruments at Gazzarri’s,” began playing, and “what happened after that was pure magic.” [7] Much to their surprise, by the second night people watching got up and started dancing. By the third night or later of performing, huge crowds and celebrities started gathering in Gazzarri's to hear them play. In his book The Music of Johnny Rivers, Robert Reynolds described the sound of the music as “being driven with a catchy pulsating rhythm.” [8] After initial success, Gazzarri offered Rivers more work and allowed bassist Joe Osborn to join him and Rubin. Elmer Valentine, a club promoter, caught on to Rubin and Rivers’ popularity at Gazarri's, and asked the band to perform on opening night at his new club he was planning to open on the Sunset Strip. The new club planning to open was called the Whisky a Go Go. The band accepted. On opening night Eddie Rubin and Johnny Rivers were the very first artists to ever perform at the Whisky a Go Go, which sparked the Whisky's rise to one of the most famous music venues worldwide. [9] [10] On opening night on January 15, 1964, the line of people waiting to get in stretched all the way around the block. Inside, there were go-go dancers in cages on an elevated platform above the stage. Rubin and Rivers became the Whisky's house band for the next two years with a packed house every night, attracting both locals and numerous celebrities. The Beatles showed up to the Whisky a Go Go one evening in the summer of 1964 after performing at the Hollywood Bowl, during their first tour in the United States. The Beatles were visiting Sunset Strip and wanted to see what all the hype about Eddie Rubin and Johnny Rivers at the newly opened Whisky a Go Go was all about. [8] During this first year run at the Whisky in 1964, Eddie and Johnny recorded two albums together live at the Whisky. The first live album, At the Whisky a Go Go , was released in February 1964 just one month after the Whisky's opening. The album received a Gold award, and the hit single “Memphis,” included on the album, was certified as a Gold single. The second live album, Here We a Go Go Again! , was released in April 1964, and included the hit single “Maybellene.”

1970s

After years of performing and touring with Johnny Rivers throughout the United States and foreign countries, Eddie Rubin was in demand as a drummer. From 1969 to 1971, Eddie Rubin performed and recorded with singer and songwriter Neil Diamond. [11] Neil Diamond wrote his famous hit song “Sweet Caroline” in 1969 and after its massive success that same year, Diamond's success was taking off. Diamond relocated to Los Angeles from New York in 1969 and was in need of a promising new band he could tour with. In July 1969 Eddie Rubin was contacted by Diamond and his manager, who wanted Rubin as the band's drummer. Rubin agreed to join, and immediately Rubin, Diamond, and the rest of the band prepared to go on tour. [12] [13] In late September 1969 they did a six-night performance at the Troubadour nightclub in Hollywood California, and before the end of the year toured throughout the United States in Maryland, Utah, Texas, Pennsylvania, and many other states throughout the south. In the beginning of 1970, Rubin toured more states with Diamond and then in March 1970 throughout Canada. [12] Later in the summer, July 1970, Eddie Rubin performed with Diamond at the Troubadour (West Hollywood, California) once again. It was here at the Troubadour on July 15, 1970, that Rubin recorded the hit live album Gold: Recorded Live at the Troubadour with Diamond's band. [3] This album, released on August 22, 1970, included the hit songs “Sweet Caroline,” “Solitary Man,” and “Cherry Cherry.” The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in November 1970, and eventually went 2x Multi-Platinum.


Discography

Albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Springfield</span> Canadian-American folk rock band

Buffalo Springfield was a rock band formed in Los Angeles by Canadian musicians Neil Young, Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin and American musicians Stephen Stills and Richie Furay. The group, widely known for the song "For What It's Worth", released three albums and several singles from 1966 to 1968. Their music combined elements of folk music and country music with influences from the British Invasion and psychedelic rock. Like contemporary band the Byrds, they were key to the early development of folk rock. The band took their name from a steamroller parked outside their house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunset Strip</span> Hollywood portion of Sunset Boulevard

The Sunset Strip is the 1.7-mile (2.7 km) stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through the city of West Hollywood, California, United States. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with the city of Los Angeles near Marmont Lane to its western border with Beverly Hills at Phyllis Street. The Sunset Strip is known for its boutiques, restaurants, rock clubs, and nightclubs, as well as its array of huge, colorful billboards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whisky a Go Go</span> Nightclub in West Hollywood, California

The Whisky a Go Go is a historic nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip, corner North Clark Street, opposite North San Vicente Boulevard, northwest corner. The club has been the host for musicians and bands including Taj Mahal, Otis Redding, Hugh Masekela, Alice Cooper, The Doors, The Byrds, Three Dog Night, The Mothers of Invention, Buffalo Springfield, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, Love, The Stooges, Parliament-Funkadelic, Metallica, Cheap Trick, Guns N' Roses, System of a Down, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Chicago, Germs, Elton John, Mötley Crüe, Steppenwolf, Van Halen, Rush, Johnny Rivers, X, Iron Butterfly, Shark Island, Fleetwood Mac, KISS, No Doubt, Death, AC/DC, Golden Earring, Linkin Park, Nirvana, The Beach Boys, Stryper, Norma Jean, Oasis, Everclear and Phil Seymour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Rivers</span> American rock musician

Johnny Rivers is a retired American musician. He achieved commercial success and popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a singer and guitarist, characterized as a versatile and influential artist. Rivers is best known for his 1960s output, having popularized the mid-60s discotheque scene through his live rock and roll recordings at Los Angeles' Whiskey a Go Go nightclub, and later shifting to a more orchestral, soul-oriented sound during the latter half of the decade. These developments were reflected by his most notable string of hit singles between 1964 and 1968, many of them covers. They include "Memphis", "Mountain of Love", "The Seventh Son", "Secret Agent Man", "Poor Side of Town", "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", and "Summer Rain". Ultimately, Rivers landed 9 top ten hits and 17 top forty hits on US charts from 1964 to 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood)</span> Nightclub

The Roxy Theatre is a nightclub on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, owned by Lou Adler and his son, Nic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Viper Room</span> Nightclub in West Hollywood, California US

The Viper Room is a nightclub and live music venue located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, United States. It was established under its current name in 1993, being co-owned by actors and 21 Jump Street co-stars Johnny Depp and Sal Jenco. The Viper Room has undergone several changes in ownership, with the present owner being Viper Holdings, Ltd CEO James Cooper. It continues to host music of multiple genres, including metal, punk, and alternative rock. While predominantly known as a music venue, the Viper Room also has a lower level which is home to a large whiskey bar.

Elmer Valentine was the co-founder of three famous nightclubs on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California: the Whisky a Go Go, The Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Bar & Grill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Bar and Grill</span> Bar and restaurant/grocery store in California, United States

The Rainbow Bar and Grill is a bar, restaurant and grocery store on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, United States, adjacent to the border of Beverly Hills, California. Its address is 9015 Sunset Boulevard.

Venus and the Razorblades were a short-lived punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed and managed by Kim Fowley after his initial separation with The Runaways in 1976. They are believed to be one of the first mixed-gender American punk bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Knechtel</span> American keyboards and bassist session musician (1940–2009)

Lawrence William Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles–based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, the Monkees, the Partridge Family, Billy Joel, the Doors, the Byrds, the Grass Roots, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley. He also was a member of the 1970s band Bread.

Donald Ray Murray was an American drummer and Hanna-Barbera animator, best known for his work with the Turtles. After leaving the group, Murray played with Paul Williams's psychedelic folk group the Holy Mackerel. In the 1980s he went on to perform with the newly formed Surfaris.

Joel Larson is an American rock drummer and percussionist who is known as a founding member of The Merry-Go-Round and for being associated with The Turtles and The Grass Roots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gazzarri's</span> Nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States

Gazzarri's was a nightclub on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. The venue was a staple of the Los Angeles music scene from the 1960s until the early 1990s. The Doors and Van Halen were featured house bands there before being signed to major record labels. It was the backdrop for Huey Lewis and the News' short form promotional music video for their 1984 hit The Heart of Rock and Roll.

Amy Schugar is an American songwriter, arranger, singer and guitarist.

<i>At the Whisky à Go Go</i> 1964 live album by Johnny Rivers

Johnny Rivers at the Whisky à Go Go is a live album and is the debut album from American rock and roll singer, songwriter and guitarist Johnny Rivers.

<i>Here We à Go Go Again!</i> 1964 live album by Johnny Rivers

Here We à Go Go Again! is Johnny Rivers's second official album, and like his first album, At the Whisky à Go Go, it was recorded live at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, California. The album was on the Billboard Charts for 23 weeks and reached #38 on December 12, 1964. The album spawned two hit singles: "Maybellene", #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Midnight Special", #20 in 1965.

Don Randi is an American keyboard player, bandleader, and songwriter who was a member of the Wrecking Crew.

Cory Wells & The Enemys are best remembered as a group fronted by Cory Wells before he joined up with Danny Hutton and Chuck Negron to form Three Dog Night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deathriders</span> Musical artist

DeathRiders is an American heavy metal band based in Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 2001 to support lead vocalist Neil Turbin's solo album Threatcon Delta and is named after Neil's song lyric "Deathrider" which was the first song on the album 'Fistful of Metal' which Turbin wrote in his time as the lead singer of Anthrax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Brophy</span> American record producer

Nick Brophy is an American mixer, sound engineer, record producer and songwriter. The artists he has collaborated with and written for include Jason Aldean, the Rolling Stones, Avril Lavigne, Hootie & the Blowfish, Kenny Chesney, Carly Simon, Taylor Swift, Garbage and Everclear. His engineering credits include Everclear's platinum Sparkle and Fade, Avril Lavigne's 6× platinum Let Go and the Rolling Stones 4× platinum 40 Licks. His mixing credits include three consecutive #1 singles by Kip Moore; 2× platinum Somethin' 'Bout a Truck, certified gold Beer Money and platinum Hey Pretty Girl, as well as Jimmy Fallon's Blow Your Pants Off, for which he won a Grammy. His songwriting credits include recordings by Hootie & the Blowfish, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts.

References

  1. ↑ Yanow, Scott. "Don Randi Biography". All Music. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. ↑ "Last Night with the Don Randi Trio". All Music. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Eddie Rubin Discography". All Music. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  4. ↑ "Las Vegas Sun". Newspaper Archive. 10 December 1963. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  5. ↑ Aswell, Tom (2010). Louisiana Rocks! The True Genesis of Rock and Roll. Pelican Pub. Co. p. 160. ISBN   9781455607839.
  6. ↑ Harris, George. "Johnny Rivers: A Life of Danger". Jazz Weekly. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  7. ↑ Quisling, Erik; Williams, Austin (2003). Straight Whisky: A Living History of Sex, Drugs, and Rock N Roll on the Sunset Strip. Bonus Books. p. 19. ISBN   9781566251976.
  8. 1 2 Reynolds, Robert (2016). The Music of Johnny Rivers. Lulu Press, Inc. ISBN   9781365550942.
  9. ↑ MacKay, Kathleen (2010). Bob Dylan: Intimate Insights from Friends and Fellow Musicians. Omnibus Press. ISBN   9780857122414.
  10. ↑ Kamp, David (10 November 2000). "Live at The Whisky". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "Former Band Members". Neil Diamond Homepage, Since 1995.
  12. 1 2 Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. ISBN   9781550227079.
  13. ↑ "Biography". I Am...I Said a Fan of Neil Diamond. Retrieved 15 February 2019.

Sources

  1. Clash, Jim. “Johnny Rivers On Whiskey a Go Go Club, Bob Dylan as First Rapper.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 16 May 2015, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2015/05/16/johnny-rivers-on-whiskey-a-go-go-club-bob-dylan-as-first-rapper/#2109a6fe5980.
  2. Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. (n.d.). Retrieved August 2, 2019, from http://louisianamusichalloffame.org/content/view/95/114/ Archived 2018-10-04 at the Wayback Machine .
  3. Harris, George W. “Johnny Rivers: A Life of Danger.” Jazzweekly.com, 1 Mar. 2014, https://www.jazzweekly.com/2014/03/johnny-rivers-a-life-of-danger/.
  4. “Johnny Rivers Biography.” http://johnnyrivers.com/jr/biography.html
  5. Junior, Chris. “Johnny Rivers Lets the Whisky Flow.” Goldmine Magazine, 25 Sept. 2012, https://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/johnny-rivers-lets-the-whisky-flow.
  6. Kelemen, Matt. “Q&A: Johnny Rivers.” The Magazine - Las Vegas Weekly, 19 Feb. 2016, https://lasvegasmagazine.com/interviews/qa/2016/feb/19/q-a-johnny-rivers-golden-nugget/.
  7. Lowman, Rob. “Johnny Rivers, Jimmy Webb Celebrate Whisky a Go Go’s 50th Anniversary, plus a Look Back at the Sunset Strip.” Daily News, Daily News, 10 Jan. 2014, https://www.dailynews.com/2014/01/10/johnny-rivers-jimmy-webb-celebrate-whisky-a-go-gos-50th-anniversary-plus-a-look-back-at-the-sunset-strip/
  8. Martino, Alison. “Vintage Los Angeles: How Go Go Dancing Took Off at the Whisky.” Los Angeles Magazine, 13 Jan. 2014, https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/vintage-los-angeles-how-go-go-dancing-took-off-at-the-whisky/
  9. Phill. “Will Johnny Rivers Ever Flow into The Rock Hall of Fame?” Goldmine Magazine, 14 Apr. 2011, https://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/will-johnny-rivers-ever-flow-into-the-rock-hall-of-fame
  10. Ragogna, Mike. “From Whisky a Go Go to the Royal Studios: Conversations with Johnny Rivers and Paul Rodgers, Plus Roy Orbison Reissued.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 31 Dec. 2013, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/from-whisky-a-go-go-to-th_b_4521991
  11. Randi, Don, and Karen Nishimura. You've Heard These Hands: From the Wall of Sound to the Wrecking Crew and Other Incredible Stories. Hal Leonard Books, 2015
  12. “Rock & Roll Geography: Whisky a Go Go.” Mind Smoke Music, https://msmokemusic.com/blog/blog/rock-roll-geography-whisky-a-go-go-los-angeles-ca
  13. “Secret Agent Man.” Jerry Reuss Las Vegas, NV Jerry Reuss, 2009, https://www.jerryreuss.com/johnnyriverssecretagentman.html.
  14. “The Original Neil Diamond Home Page, since 1995.” The Original Neil Diamond Home Page, since 1995, http://www.neildiamondhomepage.com/band.htm.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.