'San Francisco' singer-songwriter Scott Mckenzie dies aged 73

Noise11.com ^ | 19th August 2012 | Paul Cashmere

[the scotsman]

'Scott McKenzie has died in Los Angeles at the age of 73.

‘If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a flower in your hair’ is one of the great hippy songs of its era and defined San Francisco in the 60s.

Scott was born Philip Blondheim on 10 January, 1939. He died on Saturday in Los Angeles after two weeks in hospital.'

[null and void]

Dang, great song.

[the scotsman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_HhwinPw-M

[carriage_hill]

Any idea as to what the cause of death was?

[carriage_hill]

Just found this:

“He had suffered from Guillain–Barré syndrome since 2010”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_McKenzie

[eddie willers]

Can’t help it....I loved his one hit.

[PWK arch]

The VERY last song I heard waking up at home, on the day I was leaving for boot camp. Both etched forever in my mind (the song and boot camp).

[RightOnline]

73....kinda makes one feel old, now, doesn’t it....

[eddie willers]

I’m surprised that the link was all about his relationship to John Phillips of the “Mamas & the Papas” without adding that Phillip’s daughter, TV star Mackenzie, was named after him.

[Liberty Valance]

Rest in peace Scott McKenzie

[muir_redwoods]

RIP Mr. McKenzie. Thanks

[23 Everest]

I hated that song. I was in college then and was probably the only conservative at Fullerton. My Lit Prof was a fricken lesbian that wanted us to read Kafka.

[qam1]

Led Zeppelin did it better live in Dazed & Confused

[Berlin_Freeper]

The only song I really hate.

[SMGFan]

Color- Monterey - 7 million + views
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bch1_Ep5M1s&feature=related

R.I.P. :) I heard the songs on WCBS FM NYC

[t1b8zs]

yup

[daler]

The song reminds me of Chanute AFB, where I was "stationed" at the time with the Civil Air Patrol.

I was a bit too young for the Air Force, but felt a certain kinship with the older guys that were there...many of whom shipped out to 'Nam, of course.

One of those songs that never wears out.

[oh8eleven]

Dirty, feckin’ scumbag hippies. Caused the war to go on for an extra 4-5 years.

[Publius]

Scott McKenzie: "San Francisco"

Scott McKenzie: "Like an Old Time Movie"

[SamAdams76]

I'm with you, I really liked that song too. Not all hippie music is bad. Now on the other hand, John Lennon's "Imagine" makes me want to smash a piano over somebody's head. But that "San Francisco" song, that was pretty darn good.

And yes, it is very scary how old recording artists I grew up with are getting to be. Bob Dylan is getting ready to turn 72.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Rest in peace Scott McKenzie”

Yes. Certainly! But I hated that song,,,, and I was a hippie! A rather odd hippie, as I was a Conservative, but still a hippie.

[FlingWingFlyer]

At least back in the 60s, there were “people in motion”. Even in San Francisco. Now, everybody just wants to lay around and wait for their welfare and/or “disability” checks to come in.

[Fast Moving Angel]

Aw, man ... now I really feel old. RIP, Scott.

[eddie willers]

Now on the other hand, John Lennon's "Imagine" makes me want to smash a piano over somebody's head.

We're in agreement again. Both songs were weak lyrically, but whereas Mackenzie's had a great melody and wonderful hooks, Imagine was virtually tuneless and almost as bad as his woeful "Mind Games".

Would'a thought that after the break-up, George would have the most memorable album? (All Thing Must Pass)

[vetvetdoug]

His song was playing on the jukebox at a bus station in Texas as I said goodbye to one of my friends that was going into the Army. It was the last time I saw Frank as he was killed in Viet Nam.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[cva66snipe]

“He had suffered from Guillain–Barré syndrome since 2010”

Real bad news to get that especially at his age. It attacks the mielen {sp} nerve sheaves and the respiratory system. It first showed up in the Swine Flu shots in the early 1980's I think.

[The Sons of Liberty]

I love Scott McKenzie’s version of that song, but it was actually written by John Phillips of The Mamas an Papas.

[martin_fierro]

If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

If you're going to San Francisco
You're gonna meet some gentle people there

For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there

In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair

All across the nation such a strange vibration

People in motion

There's a whole generation with a new explanation

People in motion people in motion

For those who come to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there

If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there

[murron]

I love that song. Brings back a lot of memories.

[tflabo]

It was a pretty good song. Had a nice melody to it. Certainly one of those songs that transports you right back to that era. We were fortunate to have lived in an era of so many great songs. Certainly more years behind than ahead for those of us from that era.

[Dartman]

Amen.
R.I.P. Scott McKenzie ...BUT ...I hated that song when it came out and I hate it now. Flower Power was one thing, but that song was just too mushy.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Flower Power was one thing, but that song was just too mushy.”

It’s right down there with that song about “someone left the cake out in the rain. I was sort of a hippy, but I was a Zappa freak.

[Dartman]

Yeah, I did my teen years during the 60’s. There was a lot of great innovative music then, the Beatles, the Stones, and R&B from Memphis and Motown. But the stuff this thread is about is embarassing to say the least ...

[Revolting cat!]

Scott was born Philip Blondheim

Just as I suspected.

[Revolting cat!]

He din’t write it.

[Revolting cat!]

That one tune kept John Phillips in dope for at least a decade ruining his career.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Allergic reaction to flowers in his hair.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“But the stuff this thread is about is embarassing to say the least ...”

Abdo-lutely!

However, RIP.

[WashingtonSource]

Philip Blondheim? I never knew that.

[Revolting cat!]

that Phillip’s daughter, TV star Mackenzie, was named after him.

Should have named her either 'Blondheim' or 'Philip'.

[Revolting cat!]

Traitor should have died in San Francisco, like Tony Bennett, or Frank Sinatra in New York, New York.

[carriage_hill]

Crap; I’ve been humming that damned song for the past 45mins. “Earworm”. Dialing-up Pink Floyd/YouTube on my 7.1 surround now to drown it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKVJicTW9rc&feature=related

[Fiji Hill]

The only song I really hate.

Here's another: The Flower Children--Maria Strassman, 1967

[GOPJ]

Great song. Prayers for his loved ones...

[Right Wing Assault]

Seen in the video:

Mick Jagger talking to Janis Joplin
Brian Jones
Jimi Hendrix
Michelle Phillips talking to Mama Cass

What do you think?

The Stones were there but didn’t play. Jones introduced Hendrix and Jagger was on the board of governors of the Festival.

[Ezekiel]

Any idea as to what the cause of death was?

"Two weeks in hospital", looks like.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Creepy!

[stpio]

Eternal rest grant unto Scott Oh Lord and may Your perpetual
light shine upon him. Amen

[carriage_hill]

THAT’ll do it!