Scott McKenzie, who sang “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair),” passed away on August 18, 2012. McKenzie, who was 73, had been living with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disease that affects the nervous system.
McKenzie’s most famous song as a singer was “San Francisco,” which was released in May 1967 in honor of the upcoming Monterey Pop Festival. The song and became an instant hit.
John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas wrote the song, but McKenzie had inspired him to write it. Phillips and McKenzie had been childhood friends and played music together. McKenzie, who was born Philip Wallach Blondheim III on January 10, 1939, got his stage name after John Phillips’ daughter, the future actress Mackenzie Phillips.
As Monterey was preparing for the festival and concerned about the large crowds, the song was written as a plea to make the event a peaceful one. Ultimately, the event was both peaceful and successful.
The song, of course became a song for a generation and went far beyond that festival. Wikipedia notes that the song became an anthem for young people during Czechoslovakia’s 1968 Prague Spring uprising. The song has appeared in movies such as Forrest Gump (1994) and has been covered by a number of artists.
Note that the song subtitle “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in your Hair)” differs from the line used in the song, “Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.”
McKenzie’s Life After “San Francisco”
McKenzie’s website states that after the song was a hit, “Scott ‘dropped out’ in the late 60’s. In 1970 he moved to Joshua Tree, a California desert town near Palm Springs.”
He then lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia for a decade before touring as part of The Mamas & the Papas into the 1990s. In 1988, he co-wrote the Beach Boys hit “Kokomo” with John Phillips, Mike Love and Terry Melcher.
McKenzie performed off and on until recently, and he recorded “Gone to Sea” in 2009. He had been in and out of the hospital since 2010 and he likely had a heart attack earlier this month. He asked to leave the hospital and died at home . . . in another California city, Los Angeles.
RIP.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
