Songwriter P.F. Sloan, 2015 Ponderosa Stomp performer, has died

New Orleans Advocate ^ | Nov. 16, 2015; 2:42 p.m | JOHN WIRT

[a fool in paradise]

P.F. Sloan, composer of major hits by Johnny Rivers ("Secret Agent Man") and Barry McGuire ("Eve of Destruction") died Nov. 15 at his home in Los Angeles. The singer, songwriter and guitarist performed Oct. 2 at the New Orleans roots-music festival the Ponderosa Stomp.

Sloan, 70, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer several weeks before his death, his publicist reported Monday.

In addition to being the composer of songs recorded by Rivers, McGuire, The Turtles, The Grass Roots, Herman's Hermits, The Fifth Dimension, The Searchers and others, Sloan played for hundreds of recording sessions. He created the classic guitar intro, for instance, to The Mamas & The Papas' "California Dreamin'."

Songwriter Jimmy Webb ("By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman," "Up, Up and Away") wrote a song inspired by Sloan's many years of absence from the music scene.

"I have been seeking P.F. Sloan," the lyrics of "P.F. Sloan" say. "But no one knows where he has gone. No one ever heard the song that boy set winging."

Sloan was philosophical about that period of his life as well as the lack of compensation he received his songwriting.

"I had the opportunity to use the gift the divine had given me, to do music," he said in September. "The money really was secondary. In the end, they took it all, and that's the way that song went. It took me, like, 35 years to pull it all together with grace. But music's in my soul, so I've got to express that."

[a fool in paradise]

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Thank you for posting this.

[Paladin2]

RIP.

[a fool in paradise]

California Dreamin’ and suspension chords
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed1aq3Mgs-c

[a fool in paradise]

Memories working A&R for Lou Adler when he first hears the Beatles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w_Q-hfHUWA

[a fool in paradise]

Eve of Destruction live October 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q37QL28Gjc0

This was the same day as a campus shooting

[dfwgator]

Eve of Destruction is just as relevant today as it was then.

[a fool in paradise]

Secret Agent Man live October 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be5TXGu5Wg4

[Inyo-Mono]

bttt.

[a fool in paradise]

He said that it is prophetic, as timely as ever.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[fieldmarshaldj]

So is Secret Asian Man.

[bigbob]

Another great contributor to the best musical decade ever...RIP.

[Lurker]

Jimmy Webb. “if you see me getting smaller I’m leaving.”

L

[Publius]

We've lost an original. I did a Rockumentary on him back when I first began the effort around five years ago.

P. F. Sloan: "Let Me Be"

[luvie]

Oh, goodness...what a shame! RIP....

[Sicvee]

Just seeing that phrase gives me the chills as I recall Waylon Jennings singing it. I don’t even know the name of the song!

[luvie]

Well, as you can guess...
...we are going on another road trip today!
Off to OKC to check on my MIL.
She SAYS she's feeling better,
but we wsnt to see for ourselves.
Plus she has a doctor appointment
and hubby has to be there with her.
Anyhoooooooo...hope all of you Early Birds
have a Terrific Tuesday!
And that you whoo are working
have an easy day of it!
Glad the storms are over for you Megs!
We got a bit of it but mostly rain. Yay!
Some wind but not awful.
((((hugs))))

[luvie]

Oops...wrong thread, but you get the point. Right! LOL!

EMBARRASSED!!

[MEG33]

I wish you a safe trip, (((LUV))).