“(In A Place called the Bla-Bla
Café), author Sandy Ross asks, ‘What do superstar comedians Jay Leno, David
Letterman and Robin Williams have in common with (multiple Grammy)
award-winning (recording artists) Al Jarreau, Meb’Mo’ and Sting, and hit songwriters Peter Allen, Gene
Nelson and Amanda McBroom?’ The answer
is that they all performed at an out-of-the-way club in Studio City called the Bla-Bla Café while they engineered their first major break
into the entertainment industry. The
book chronicles the historic café with photos and interviews with artists that
played the club. It even contains a list
of all the artists, both famous and not, who made the café the place to be
(from 1971-1982). Go to
www.bla-bla-cafe.com for additional information
on this thoroughly entertaining read.” Music
Connection – July 3-16, 2006
From
early-1971 to mid-1982 the Bla-Bla Café stood as an
island of inspiration and creativity. Though tucked out-of-the-way in Studio City, a small Los Angeles suburb, it was right next
door to Hollywood, which was at that time the center of the entire entertainment industry.
In its 11-year history it served as a training ground for
what later became some of the best and most well-known and well-loved comics,
actors, musicians, mimes, singers, and songwriters of our times. Entertainers
like Jay Leno, David Letterman, Robin Williams, Al Jarreau,
and Sting performed there before anyone had ever heard their names, 200+
songwriters hung out there—performing and listening to each other while they
were writing some of the most popular songs of the day and preparing to write
hits that we listen to and enjoy now, popular sitcom actors jumped up on open-mics to read introspective poetry, and musicians played-out
with their own arty/creative rock and jazz groups each night and then recorded
million-seller commercial records in studios during the day.
A Place Called the Bla-Bla Café, chronicles the history of
this early, well-loved and well-respected entertainment industry showcase that
pioneered much of what we now know as entertainment showcasing today. It also contains chapters of stories,
interviews, anecdotes, and perspectives contributed by 15 regular café
performers, family, and staff, a staff table, and a 90-page performers' table
that lists hundreds of performers who showcased there along with a synopsis of
their industry credits: Jimmy Webb, Karla Bonoff,
Peter Allen, Keb' Mo', Dave Matthews, Roseanne Cash, Patti Davis, Keith Green,
David Blue, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Robin Williams, Billy
Crystal, William Katt,
Amy Madigan, Liz Torres, Vonda Shepard,
The Motels, Huey Lewis and the News, The
Police, Sylvester, Michael Greer, Vicki Randle, Shelby Flint, Carl Anderson, Rosie Flores, Steve Gillette,
Peter Alsop, Steve Seskin,
Randy Sharp, Jenny Yates, Don Ellis,
Morgana King, Joe Pass. . . and the list goes on and on.
Most
of all, though, the book provides a portal in which to view the spirit of the
performing artists of the 1970s, through their naivety, discovery and growth,
at a time of stark contradictions and prejudices, political disheartenments,
global violence, and sexual/social revolution.
It's
a must-read for people who were there and for everyone who appreciates the value of living their dreams.
To
purchase a copy, visit www.bla-bla-cafe.com.
