It’s likely that San Diego’s music community has had no greater friend than music archivist Lou Curtiss. Since founding his Folk Arts Records in 1967, Curtiss has kept the flame burning for local artists, and roots music in particular. We have him to thank for starting The Adams Avenue Roots Festival and sponsoring many other concerts, as well as for numerous hours of radio programming on various stations, most recently a Sunday-night program on KSDS-FM.
Over the years, Curtiss has mentored and helped countless musicians. Tom Waits, Jack Tempchin, AJ Croce and Mojo Nixon are just a few who have cited him as having been important in their musical development.
On April 19, a group of San Diego performers will gather at Dizzy’s for the third annual tribute to Curtiss, “Sounds Like San Diego III.” Proceeds from the event will be used to help Curtiss digitize his collection of 90,000 hours of rare recordings.
The premise for the concert is simple. Current area performers cover songs written by other San Diegans, from the 1920s to the present day. On hand will be a dozen artists, including honorees Lou and Virginia Curtiss, Anna Troy, Citizen Band, Matt Curreri, Sara Petite, Joe Mendoza and The Grams. Also taking part will be a few bands performing a song as well as their own hits of yesteryear, such as Private Domain, which will reprise its mid-’80s FM radio staple “Absolute Perfection,” and late ’70s power-poppers Mark DeCerbo & Four Eyes, best known for the tune “Disengaged.”
“It’s wild how many songs there are to choose a cover from,” DeCerbo said. “I don’t think most people realize how many great tunes have been written by San Diegans.”
He cited ex-Kingston Trio guitarist John Stewart, who penned such hits as “Daydream Believer” for The Monkees, and former Byrd Chris Hillman as two of his favorite writers to emerge from the area.
“I find a show like this to be inspirational,” he said. “When you see the scope of what other local musicians have come up with, it really makes you want to up your game. I mean, this is the city that gave the world both ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ and ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling.’ As a writer, you hope to be able to come up with something that makes that kind of impact.”
For Troy, part of the appeal of performing at this show is the ability to reinterpret a classic tune.
“You can’t change the melody too much, because in a song that’s kind of the point,” she said. “But playing with the tempos and rhythms can transform a ballad into a rocker and vice versa.”
A few artists will sing songs penned by modern day troubadours, but Troy prefers to take this opportunity to delve into the city’s musical history.
“It’s fantastic to go back and discover the artists that built the foundation of our music community,” she said.
Ever modest, Curtiss is thrilled about the attention this show will draw but not for himself.
“I’m happy to see a show like this happen, particularly with the use of older songs,” he said. “It not only brings some great music back into the spotlight, but it also shows that the younger generation hasn’t forgotten its roots.”
He named 1940s country stars Smokey Rogers and Merrill Moore as among his favorite locals, though he won’t name a favorite song.
“There’s just too many to choose from,” he said with a laugh. “As soon as I say it’s one song, I remember another great one. You have to keep in mind how many decades of music I’ve listened to.”
Dizzy’s is located at 344 Seventh Ave. For more information, visit www.dizzyssandiego.com.