Topanga Canyon

Image via wikipedia

This canyon begins its North end in the San Fernando Valley and ends at the Pacific Ocean. Throughout its length, it has left its mark on the L.A. rock and roll scene.

Topanfa SignIts most famous landmark was probably the Topanga Corral which used to be at 2034 Topanga Cyn. It will be forever remembered as a place were Canned Heat, Spirit and Spanky and Our Gang honed their skills. It is rumored that Jim Morrison wrote Roadhouse Blues about this place.

Canned Heat Co-founder Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson whose falsetto can be heard in their great hit Going up the Country died on the hill behind fellow band member Bob Hite’s Topanga Canyon home on Sept. 3, 1970. He was 27.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s album cover for Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere was shot in the Canyon. Nobody is sure exactly where that tree is though.

Famous past and current residents include:

Neil Young and Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Randy California, Mark Andes, Ed Cassidy and Jay Ferguson of Spirit.
Don Felder and Bernie Leadon of The Eagles
John Densmore and Jim Morrison of The Doors
Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac
Colin Hay of Men at Work
Lowell George of Little Feat
Bob Hite and Alan Wilson of Canned Heat
Elaine “Spanky” McFarlane of Spanky and Our Gang
Taj Mahal
Billy Preston
Marvin Gaye
Woody Guthrie
Van Morrison
Joni Mitchell