Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove will continue to share a Sunday summer tradition that began, legend has it, when a simple idea uttered from the lips of one La Jollan floated to the ears of another: Let’s have concerts in the park.
Twenty-five years later, ShirleyMae Davis, president of La Jolla Concerts by the Sea, describes the man who began the free park music series, Ed Lawrence.
“He started the organization. He was a real estate broker in town. Legend has it that someone said, ‘Why don’t we have concerts in the park on Sundays?'” Davis said.
This season’s concert series begins Sunday, June 22, and Davis said she wanted to find Lawrence, the Rotarian founder, because of the organization’s 25-year milestone. “The last anyone knew is that he was living in the Palm Springs area.”
Fifteen years after Lawrence and La Jolla Town Council brought the music concert series to La Jolla Cove, a committee broke off to form the nonprofit group, La Jolla Concerts by the Sea.
While Lawrence may not be around this year to see what he began, Davis said she would have extras on hand for the public to mark the occasion.
“There will be special things this year to celebrate our 25th season,” Davis said.
Entrance to the park and concert are free to the public, so the organization sells concessions, including hot dogs, sodas and ice cream, to fund the event.
The group also raffles prizes. This year, Davis said she would hand out prizes to people who buy $10 in raffle tickets.
Raffle prizes this year include a two-night stay at The Cove Suites Motel, gift certificates for restaurants, Tom Mangelsen coffee table books and other locally donated giveaways, Davis said.
“We always have raffles with prizes that cover the gamut,” Davis said.
The public can dance and listen to a variety of music every Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m., beginning this Sunday with Rockola. The season ends Aug. 31 when The Heroes, a classic rock band, closes the summer.
The schedule is: June 29, the Screamin’ Primas (swing music); July 6, Rocket Rodeo (country); July 13, Big Time Operator (swing); July 20, 145th Street (blues); July 27, Sue Palmer and Her Motel Swing Orchestra; Aug. 3, The Corvettes (doo-wop); Aug. 10, Westwind Brass (classical); Aug. 17, Benny Hollman’s Big Band Explosion; Aug. 24, Yavaz (Latin jazz); Aug. 31, The Heroes (classic rock).
For more information, to see a complete schedule and to read about the bands and organization, go to www.ljconcertsbythesea.org.