Proposal for City Hall Gallery Exhibit on the Early Days of Creedence Clearwater Revival

Proposal for City Hall Gallery exhibit on the early days of Creedence Clearwater Revival Submitted April 23, 2019 by the El Cerrito Historical Society, Dave Weinstein, president, and by Alec Palao, curator This will not be an art exhibit, strictly speaking, but more a historical one, yet tied to arts month through its subject: Creedence Clearwater Revival, the El Cerrito-born rock’n’roll band that 50 years ago became the most popular band in the world, at one point even rivaling the Beatles as a singles act. An even more poignant anniversary is the fact that 2019 marks a full 60 years since the embryonic line-up of the group was formed at Portola Junior High in 1959. Our preferred date would be October 2019. Much of the material on display will also qualify as art as it will include much in the way of graphics, such as artistically-designed album covers, posters, and other promotional material and photographs. Alec Palao is well positioned to do this exhibit. He is a noted producer of back catalog rock and R&B reissues, with five Grammy nominations in the Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes categories. A serious music scholar, with a special interest in Bay Area, and especially East Bay music, he is also a professional musician. A native of Great Britain, Alec moved to the United States over three decades ago largely because of his interest in American music of the era, and has lived in El Cerrito for 22 years. He produced, compiled and annotatedcritically appraised reissues of Creedence music including rare recordings by their predecessor bands, the Blue Velvets and Golliwogs, and knows the history of the band very well. Alec believes Creedence fans will come from far-flung places, including from Europe, for this exhibit and for his talk. Artist information: Alec Palao, , El Cerrito, CA 94530-2311, USA, [email protected] Theme of exhibit The exhibit will focus on the early history of the most famous band to ever come out of El Cerrito (or arguably, the East Bay). Their music continues to reach worldwide, and brings tourists from overseas to the city, who often comment upon the lack of attention paid by El Cerrito to their own homegrown boys. As mentioned, the exhibit will focus largely on the act’s early years in the 1960s, when the band, led by John Fogerty, were all based in El Cerrito and performed locally and regionally as the Blue Velvets and subsequently the Golliwogs, before becoming Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1968 The goal is to bring more attention in the city of El Cerrito itself to the band that has made El Cerrito known throughout the world. In interviews at the time and since, the bands members always mentioned its roots in El Cerrito, and John Fogerty’s recent autobiography, “Fortunate Son,” is replete with detailed discussions about the city where he grew up and started the band. The material will in the most part be high quality reproductions of rare albums covers, posters, newspaper clips, handbills and photos – many if not most of them rare – mounted on boards with explanatory material. Most material would come from Alec’s collection, but material would also come from other local collectors and perhaps from members of the Fogerty family. The exhibit will have about two-dozen boards, photocopies mostly of collectable material Alec possesses or can get, with some panels of explanatory text. One panel will be a map showing sites associated with the band, in El Cerrito and nearby. We would not bedisplaying actual original material, because of security concerns. The exhibit would be in conjunction with an El Cerrito Historical Society talk Alec Palaowill give at the community center give about the early days of Creedence. We could of course also have a reception and discussion at City Hall. Because 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the band’s stardom, and the 60th anniversary of their original formation, the Historical Society is focusing on Creedence this year. An earlier program we sponsored, at the community center in January, drew more than 200 people. Alec has curateda number of similarly-structured exhibits, including ones for the Museum Of Performance & Design in San Francisco in 2009, and the Berkeley Historical Society in 2017, both focusing on the local Bay Area music scene. Also taking part will be El Cerrito resident Kris Fogerty, daughter of the late Tom Fogerty, John’s brother and a member of the band. The Historical Society will fund the exhibit and plans to turn the panels into a publication, probably a small but large format book. Artist’s statement: ALEC PALAO Born in London, England 1962 El Cerrito resident since 1997 Back catalogue record producer: has compiled and produced over three hundred different CD / vinyl reissues over the past three decades, mostly focused on vintage R&B and rock, including critically-acclaimed retrospectives on Sly Stone, Booker T & the MGs, the Zombies and Creedence Clearwater Revival. A large proportion of his work focuses on the Bay Area music scene of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Is unusual in his field in that he oversees every aspect of his own projects, from the hardcore research, tape-copying and remastering of audio to contractual negotiation, liner notes and art supervision. Has received five Grammy nominations, in the Best Album Notes and Best Historical album categories. Writer / archivist – has written about music for or contributed to such magazines as Goldmine, Speak, Mojo (UK), Record Collector (UK) and a host of smaller publications. For several years published his own magazine Cream Puff War, chronicling the more esoteric yet no less worthy highways and byways of Bay Area rock & roll in the 1960s. Is currently working on a long-term, exhaustive history of the recording scene in Northern California, 1955-70. Was principal curator on Bay Area-themed music exhibits for the Museum And Performance & Design in San Francisco (2009) and the Berkeley Historical Society (2017). Musician – has played constantly in rock groups since 1981, touring Europe, Japan and the United States on several occasions. Since moving to the Bay Area, he has not only led his own outfits but also performed with or put groups together for local luminaries such as the Beau Brummels, Chocolate Watchband, Flamin’ Groovies and Country Joe McDonald. Has contributed as musician, producer and/or songwriter to over seventy different single and full- length record releases since 1983. Fan – considers himself a full-time popular music fanatic with tastes running from jazz, folk and soul to much contemporary pop music. However as a historian is particularly fascinated with the the first few decades of pop music, and had a proprietary interest in Bay Area music in those eras. Also committed to spreading the gospel – in addition to the above mentioned pursuits, also regularly deejays at nightclubs and events in San Francisco. More background available here: https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2015/11/alec-palao-man-of-many-musical-hats.html https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/collector-alec-palao-revolution-will-archived Partial list of record credits: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alec-palao-mn0000614992 .

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