Longtime resident Ian Whitcomb was Altadena’s own: a fun-loving, one-of-a-kind and multi-talented musician, entertainer, and writer who arrived in Southern California to stay with the British Invasion of the 1960s. His career morphed over the years from pop heart throb (Ian’s “You Turn Me On” reached the Top 10 in 1965, and he toured with the Beach Boys, Kinks and Rolling Stones) — into one of author, radio host, musicologist, record producer and performer of old-time music, especially ragtime. He was on stage less often after he suffered a stroke in 2012, but continued to perform up until his death April 19, 2020.
Ian’s band, The Bungalow Boys, recorded music for “Titanic” and other films, and he would often join Janet Kline and her Parlor Boys as guest performer when they played the local Backstage at the Coffee Gallery in Altadena — around the corner from his home. Ian, in fact, knew Bob Stane, Backstage manager, from Bob’s long run as impresario at The Pasadena Ice House in its 1960s-80s glory days.
“Altadena was the first and only place Ian looked when he wanted to buy a house,” says his wife Regina Whitcomb: “He loved to call it home.” She remembers when he performed one 1920s novelty ditty, he would often substitute his community for Pasadena in the lyrics: “Beneath the palms, in someone’s arms, in Al—ta—DEEN—a-a-a-ah town!”
Ian was an enthusiastic showman, and played his role to the hilt locally whether as MC for the opening of Christmas Tree Lane, grand marshal of Altadena’s Old Fashioned Days Parad, or entertaining at an Altadena Heritage party. He could be counted on to contribute copies of his books and CDs to Christmas Tree Lane and Altadena Library fundraisers.
Ian memorialized his home town in “Resident Alien,” a darkly funny account of his life as an British expat in L.A., and was a prolific author of books including “After the Ball” (a history of pop music), “Lotus Land: A story of Southern California” (a novel), “Tin Pan Alley: a Pictorial History” and “Rock Odyssey: A Chronicle of the Sixties.”
He also acted, produced and starred in several television documentaries here and in Great Britain, and wrote widely about music and culture.
Ian’s scholarly career is less well-known, but he conducted research over the years at the Huntington Library and was an in-demand academic speaker. Not content just to talk, he sang, accompanied himself on the ukulele and accordion, played 78 recordings on an old Victrola and shared his graphically fabulous collection of sheet music to give audiences an authentic feel for his subjects. In one memorable lecture, “Presidents and Propaganda,” Ian expounded on how Woodrow Wilson whipped Tin Pan Alley song writers into service (write songs glorifying war, or face Alien and Sedition Act charges!) — despite campaigning in 1916 as an isolationist who would keep America out of WWI.
We’ll miss you, and all the fun we had, Old Bean!
Michele Zack is the author of “Altadena: Between Wilderness and City” and other books.
