It all began in the early Winter months of 2016 when Bob Stane, in his producer’s chair at The Coffee Gallery Backstage, the known-unknown purveyor of quality American folk music suggested to me putting on a series of shows around the theme of the old roadside music venues along American highways like Route 66 and the music they inspired.  It was a moment of mutual inspiration lit by Mr. Stane. In my own, often futile effort to promote talented friends, Patrick Carrico and I decided to give it a go. Patrick is an immensely talented singer-songwriter who I was helping to gain greater exposure to his distinct blend of honky-tonk driven country-rock.

We agreed on the Roadhouse concept and, really, without much planning a January tribute to Hank Williams came together and drew a capacity crowd to Bob Stane’s Coffee Gallery Backstage.  It included a variety of independent artists with Patrick Carrico at center-stage as the host and featured artist. Over the next six years monthly shows came together with tributes to iconic artists including Buddy Holly, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Elvis, Bonnie Raiit, The Doors, Willie Nelson and Tom Waits.  We also paid tribute to important genres and movements of music that influenced the times including rockabilly, outlaw country, Motown, Sun and Chess Records. We even did shows honoring The Brill Building and with the considerable talent of singer-songwriter, Gary Stockdale’s help, one in tribute to the great harmony singers of American music.

Along the way local heroes who made a lasting mark on roots music in L.A. and the nation joined us.  They included the likes of Carla Olson, Stephen Inglis, Carolyn Hester-the folk singer who once recorded with Buddy Holly, John York, Carnie Wilson & her husband, our frequent guitarist for the Roadhouse band, Rob Bonfiglio. The poet of peace, and Beach Boy lyricist, Stephen Kalinich, also came our way for a special birthday show with The Honeys.

Our band, often fronted by God’s bass man, Chad Watson & his wife Pam Loe, included legendary session musicians like J.D. Manass, Phil Chen-of Doors and Rod Stewart fame and the great Dean Parks. And we must acknowledge the great Al Bonhomme Lately, our band leader has been the gifted, talented Barrett Tagliarino. Our band includes my late brother’s bandmate and co-founder of his 60s, Sunset Strip-Gazzari’s playing band, Burnside, Rick Bagby.  Our bass man for our last few shows has been Matt Bunsen. And for a good part of our run, Doors’ Robbie Krieger’s drummer, Owen Goldman has been with us.

We managed to survive the era of the Pandemic in 2020 online shows graciously hosted and broadcast by JJ Schoch & Dolly Ramirez, who played the series shows as Cool House. These virtual shows included tributes to Emitt Rhodes, Bob Dylan, John Prine, and one for my friend, Arlo Guthrie, who confirmed that he watched and loved the entire show. It was also during this time my Italian brother in music Giacomo Premoli aka Acid Jack Flashed, joined us online from his home in Varese, Italy.  The remote medium also allowed for one of my brother’s closest friends, singer-songwriter, Michael McCarty to join us, especially in his tribute to the late Emmit Rhodes. And special thanks to my Hawaiian friend and brother. Stephen Inglis joined from his home in Honolulu for his Slack Key tribute to Arlo Guthrie “Gabriel Mother’s Highway Blues #16.”  Arlo wrote me the day after praising Stephen’s take on his classic song.

And a special thanks and shout out to Nick Guzman who always brightened the shows he appeared in.  I’m especially grateful for his contributions to the British Invasion show doing Marmalade’s “Reflections of My Life,” and his great video version of Arlo Guthrie’s “Motorcycle Song,” which opened the online tribute to the Folk Singer.

I would also like to give special thanks to Rick Bagby who fronted Burnside in 1968 with my late musician brother, Ken Roland. I know would have been happy knowing how much love and heart Rick put into The Roadhouse Series.

Also, it is important to acknowledge the consistent support, talent and friendship of music veteran, Neil Rosengarden.  Neil always showed up and gave his best in song, stories and his musical and performance skills.  He is an exceptionally gifted musician who supports and encourages the talent of others even as he continues to produce the best in American music.

Karman Jeanne, has been an endless resource of support, talent, friendship and consistent loyalty to the Roadhouse Series and to L.A. roots music.  She has displayed her vocal and performing talents on stage many times over the years, but none was as touching and poignant as when she paid tribute to the late Loretta Lynn with her performance of Van Lear Rose. She gave consistently excellent performances over the years.  She was also instrumental in bringing many new talents and faces to the Series including our music director Barrett Tagliarino.

And I cannot close this day or show out without a written mention of two of the patron saints of Americana music, The Coffee Gallery Backstage & The Roadhouse Series. Duane Thorin was a mainstay at CGBS and L.A. music who created, visioned and encouraged others. He was a fine singer-songwriter, humorist, philosopher and human being. He left us after his second Roadhouse Series show, a tribute to Buddy Holly where he said goodbye with the classic, “True Love Ways.”

Zak Nilsson always brought his talent, his heritage and his friendship to the shows he participated in.  We were honored to present a show for his father, Harry Nilsson, to help and support Zak as he battled terminal cancer.  He sang, told stories and brought his own magic to the Roadhouse Series.  We proudly donated the proceedings, by his request to Coalition to Stop Gun Violence-which his father supported in memory of his friend John Lennon. Zak has been missed, but I am so grateful for his time with us.

The stories and memories are rich with the soul as bright and beautiful as the music paid tribute to. But, with the demise of The Coffee Gallery Backstage last year, it seems bringing the Roadhouse Series to a close is a natural thing.  Rick & Tom Seymour have been kind enough to allow us to continue the series at The Fret House in Covina these last few months. They have welcomed us with open arms. Our last two shows, memorials for John Stewart & Robbie Robertson, have especially filled with the vintage Roadhosue Series-Coffee Gallery magic.

If you’re asking why close the series now….Here’s the rationale:The time and expense of mounting the series has outweighed audience demand. So, it’s a natural thing to turn out the lights and maybe leave a candle in the window of our collective musical memories.

Our final show will be North of the Border: A Tribute to Canadian Singer Songwriters on December 9th at The Fret House in Covina.  We will be honoring our neighbors to the North along the great divide known as Canada. The nation has long been considered a vast wilderness and a cultural center for the arts. Canada’s finest singers & songwriters have influenced and contributed to the North American musical landscape. This show will feature the songs of legendary artists including Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Bruce Cockburn, k.d. lang, Ian & Sylvia, Buffy St. Marie, Jesse Winchester, Hank Snow and Bryan Adams among others. Joining us as special featured guests Jay Asher and Coyote Moon. Jay Asher is a singer-songwriter, pianist, composer, and arranger, who has been based in Los Angeles since 1972. As a composer, he has written music scores and songs for TV series and films, including “Zorro” and “Fame” as well as scoring DVD documentaries. He has written songs that have been recorded by Julio Iglesias, Whitney Houston, and Donna Summer.

Coyote Moon is Orange County’s premiere Americana-roots band complete with country-rock reminiscent of Little Feat and The Flying Burrito Brothers. Their reputation has grown since the early days of The Roadhouse Series’ genesis as they’ve wildly entertained and gathered momentum in their Orange County home base.

Filling out our bill includes a few veterans of the series and among them are the finest in singer-songwriters and musicians. They include JK Jones, Corrina Carter, Tim Tedrow, Michael Ubaldini, The Wild Mountain Mystics, Pat Nason, and Lorin Hart. Our band, The Four Strong Winds include Barrett Tagliarino, Rick Bagby, Owen Goldman, and Matt Bunsen.

As the series draws to a close, I must personally thank Bob Stane and Patrick Carrico for their part in making the series take off.  And so many who have supported and participated in the many shows that have been present.  I’ll close with my thanks to the names that come to mind…..and please forgive if I miss you.

In the final view of things, the series has provided an outlet for artists, a community of creativity for musicians and the audience and it has been a constant reminder of the inspiration and the treasure of great roots music.

Special thanks to Mary Grace Carrico, Randy Miller, Pat Nason, Joel Bennett, Michael Haynes, Duane Thorin, Sandra Macat, Christinna & Tony Guzman, The Licata family, Zak Nilsson, Donna Barnes-Roberts, Feef Mooney, Karman Jeanne, Dawn Hope Stevens & “Malibu Mom,”  Judy Nazemetz,  Phil Chen, Matt Bunsen, Ronee Martin, Rick Shea, Matt Cartsonis, Chad Watson, Pam Loe, Ronnie Mack, Sam Nelson, Brooks Taylor, Robbie Mangiardi, Stephen Kalinich, Lorin Hart, Scott Memmer,  Kassidy Heal, Louis Kemp, Henry Zhao, Tony & Jimmy Licata, The Storytellers, Michael Garcia, Tim & Lois Tedrow, Coyote Moon-Adrian Rice and Lisa Del La Reyes, Owen Dara, Airene Espiritu, Karen Tobin, Bill Kopase, Neil Rosengarden, Paul Zollo, Annette & Doug Conlon, Manda Mosher, Crist Moshos, and so many more.

Thank you Everyone!