Bluesberry Jam
| Bluesberry Jam | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Genres |
Blues-rock blues |
| Years active | 1960s |
| Associated acts | Canned Heat, Pacific Gas & Electric |
| Past members |
Charlie Allen Ted Greene Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra Frank Cook Al Walten |
Bluesberry Jam was a blues rock band active in the 1960s. They were for a time geographically as well as chronologically similar to Pacific Gas & Electric and Canned Heat. Their musical styles were also similar.
They are also notable for the calibre of musicians that passed through their ranks. Among the members of the band were future Canned Heat drummer Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra and legendary guitarist Ted Greene and Charlie Allen future front man of Pacific Gas & Electric. Another notable member was Frank Cook who was with Canned Heat and would end up in Pacific Gas & Electric.
The original band was: Albert Walton (Vocal) Joe Matza (Guitar) Ted Greene (Guitar) Richard Fowle (Keyboard) Dave Day (Bass) David Hill (Drums)
It was as this Group that played the Magic Mushroom in Los Angeles with Canned Heat, and the Hullabaloo Club in Hollywood on October 3, 1967 David Hill (original drummer) was drafted into the US Army, having received his draft notes later the same day as the Magic Mushroom venue.
Bluesberry Jam came out of Los Angeles and were among the three most popular blues bands of that era. The other two being Pacific Gas & Electric and Canned Heat. Canned Heat shared their first musical bill with Bluesberry Jam at the Magic Mushroom in Los Angeles.
Mexican born drummer Fito de la Parra was in a band called the Sotweed Factor. When Softweed Factor broke up, he joined Bluesberry Jam. He would stay with the band until leaving to Join Canned Heat. The turning point was one night when Bluesberry Jam were playing at the Magic Mushroom sharing the same bill with Canned Heat, there were others watching de la Parra for a certain reason. This was actually arranged by Skip Taylor the manager so that Canned Heat's members could watch Bluesberry Jam drummer Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra at work. The result of this was de la Parra joining Canned Heat. As Canned Heat were looking to get rid of Frank Cook their drummer, the whole thing became a simple switch-over with Cook then becoming the drummer for Bluesberry Jam Frank Cook actually had a Jazz background. He had previously played with trumpeter Chet Baker, pianist Elmo Hope and bassist Charlie Haden. He had also been involved with Shirley Ellis and Dobie Gray.
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