Former Location –
In 1971, Linda Ronstadt put together a backup band to play a gig here, the members Randy Meisner, Don Henley and Glenn Frey got along well enough to later form The Eagles.
Eagles Discography
1972 – Eagles
1973 – Desperado
1974 – On The Border
1975 – One Of These Nights
1976 – Hotel California
1979 – The Long Run
2007 – Long Road Out Of Eden
Chuck’s Cellar
4926 El Camino Real
Los Altos CA 94022
One night at Chuck’s Celler while watching Linda play, she picked up an ash tray and threw it at a customer!
Do you remember a blonde named Dorsey who sang at the Cellar with her husband in 72 73?
Saw John Stewart in 1971
Now Doing Business as the Pineapple Grill
Excellent affordable fresh fare from the kitchen and carefully crafted cocktails made by master mixologists.
Yep! The other comment about Linda throwing an ashtray was almost true…she threw one of those old red bumpy glass restaurant candles at a customer. I was working there as a cocktail waitress. Wild few nights with her and the future Eagles.
I saw this concert with a friend, and it was great. The band was extremely
hot and Linda was fantastic. One of the guitarists did a glance down her
T-shirt, after comment from the crowd. It was a very raucous crowd – –
I remember some bikers with a woman who went from one to another, and they
were, seriously, chewing on their drink glasses.
Who was the singer first name Joe? What was last name ? What ever happened to James Lee Reeves?) my favorite)
I used to go to Chuck’s Cellar 2-3 times a week when I was off duty. There used to be a great husband and wife duo called ? and Dorsey….can not remember his name. Often wondered what happened to them.
Tuck and Patty?
Who was the cowboy singer / comic who recorded a live album at Chuck’s Cellar?
John Stewart?
Just found this site so I’m a little late with my answer. It was John and Dorsey! My band Lochran used to play there as well. I remember sneaking in to Chucks at 19 to see Linda and using soneone elses ID that said I was 30! They let me in anyway. Awesome memories.
Rick and Ruby?
Great place for food, too. One night there was a huge crash in the kitchen… then… silence. One small voice, “Oh, Julio, are you all right?” Loved that place… and the woman I went with.
I love you too….and the cellar. We had some really wonderful times there, great food, I loved the salad bar. Didn’t we also see John Stewart play in the cellar? “Oh, Julio, are you all right?” LOL … still funny!
I was a dishwasher, bus boy, cooks helper, you name it , from 1969–1972. Saw those shows and many more great ones. Hard to believe we were watching the Eagles.
Gene. Do you remember a tall blond singer Dorsey?
I worked there from 1977-1983 as a cook, waiter and the skinniest “bouncer” down below. Saw it all, fed them all, loved them all. Best memories include hanging with Rick Nelson, Hoyt Axton, Jules Broussard, john Stewart, Glenn Yarborough, Peter Rowan, Phil Everly and of course, the SF comedy clubb troupe of A. Whitney Brown, Michael Pritchard, Pollack and too many others t recall— except the night Spanky McFarland (Spanky and our Gang) climbed on top of a 2 seat cocktail table and almost ended it all there and then. Juice Neeton , The Burgans ( fka The Wee 5) Mark Naftalan, Bobby Blues Bland, Charlie Musselwight, The Toons, it goes on and on. What a great ride it was! …and yes, Julio’s fried chicken and mashed potatos on Sunday.
Hey Anonymous. I worked there for 10 years. Not many of us left.:)
Reach out if you get this.
I worked at Chucks from 1981 through 1986 in the kitchen Great memories ! Great place great people. Remember John Stewart and Juice Newton.
I wandered into Chuck’s Cellar one night not long after a long divorce. Really went in just to get drunk. I was a native of the area but had never before been to CC. Walked in and there on stage was a goddess . . . Juice Newton. She became my pretend wife. Returned many times to see her, and always stood clear in back on a sort of half-wall bar. One time I actually worked up the courage to approach her and introduce myself. We chatted briefly, and she was even more goddess-like up close. I never did get drunk watching her shows, but always got a little buzzy and contemplative.. Juice Newton may have saved my life, figuratively. I was there the night she announced she had just signed a recording contract. Guess that was the last night I ever saw her. Maybe the late 70’s. What could have been the worst chapter of my life turned in to a great one. Thanks, Juice. You pulled me through, and I went on to success and tons of happiness with another great woman. Now we’re retired and wonder if you have any shows coming up.
James lee Reeves is alive and reasonable well in Michigan I owned the Odyssey Room in Sunnyvale from 1969 to 1989 and James did early shows for us in the 80s before our dance bands started I have been in Northern Nevada for last 40 years ! Reconnected with James Lee here about 15 years ago . Did a 7 track mini album with him here called Seven High Spirited songs about Nevada all his originals !
You can find James on the internet also under the name milo ??
Want history? I worked upstairs in the kitchen for 4 years in the late 70s, to pay for college, etc. The upstairs had a small bar for people waiting for a table, nice dining room, salad bar with house-made soup & good quality American classic steakhouse fare. The downstairs had 2 larger bars and a small stage for entertainment 7 nights a week. I don’t think anyone who uses that building will ever be able to run it like it was. Folk-oriented acts seemed to have priority in booking–they never had hard rock, metal, or even loud electric country. It was popular with 60s folk music-loving Stanford & SJSU grads working in the new developing “Silicon Valley”. Weeknights you might hear folk (Dave Guard, who played banjo on Kingston Trio’s records like “Charlie & the MTA” comes to mind), local bluegrass (Touch of Grass, Shagbark Hickory), or similar. But weekends were different, there was more leeway in the music genres. Friday & Saturday night crowds could hear bigger-name acts like Glenn Yarborough (prev. of The Limelighters), John Stewart (Kingston Trio), or occasional visiting acts like Queen Ida & her Bon Temps Zydeco Band. Peter Rowan (former Bluegrass Boy) came down & played some Saturdays, while Jules Broussard’s band brought some more rocking stuff in. A solo country oriented guy, Joe Cannon strummed & sang popular drinking songs to a packed weekend bar (though the staff didn’t care for him). A musical-comedy trio called Rick & Ruby (+ “Righteous Raul” on keys) was very popular & kept the drinks flowing. Juice Newton came in her RV just before hitting it big in LA (I fed her cat prime rib scraps). I regret not being there yet for the legendary sets with Linda Ronstadt (I wasn’t there yet). And I was working upstairs & missed a then-unknown opening act comedian–Robin Williams.
I was a bartender there with Sal & Roger, Mark Wheaton,,saw Linda, Glenn Yarborough, Kingston Trio, John Stewart, Lou Rawls, Salt & Pepper,,and a bunch of others…looking for my old cocktail waitress buddies,,Martha, Liz, Donna…