Ed Pearl 1932 – 2021

The founder of the 1960s iconic music venue The Ash Grove, Ed Pearl died on Feb. 7 from complications of COVID-19 and pneumonia. He had been living in an assisted living facility for about a year. Ed Pearl was 88. 

The Ash Grove was the focal point in Los Angeles for folk, blues, and ethnic music through the ‘60s into the early ‘70s. This unique venue located on Melrose (now a comedy club) was the home in Southern California for many traveling bluesmen and folk artists as well as more popular musicians. Among those who graced the boards of The Ash Grove were artists such as Johnny Cash, Jim Croce, The Byrds, Zydeco star Clifton Chenier, bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins and the Chamber Brothers. 

The Ash Grove was the place where young people would go and literally sit at the feet of this incredible array of artists. Actress/singer Katy Segal would climb out her window of her parents’ home to go to The Ash Grove. Brothers Phil and Dave Alvin would hitchhike from Downey to the Melrose night club. Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and Ry Cooder would be among many soon to become famous musicians who would frequent the venue.

The seeds for The Ash Grove began when Pearl, a student at UCLA, and his fraternity were denied the ability to present a folk concert featuring Pete Seeger on campus. This was at the tail end of the House Un-American Activities, where Seeger had been branded a Communist threat. The university would have none of that influence on school grounds so Ed went next door to the large Presbyterian church just off campus and filled the huge church in Westwood. In that move, he saved Pete’s career and set him on his path as a music producer, promoter  and venue operator. 

Ed was a soft-spoken man, of strong convictions. He was a political activist who was involved in the Civil Rights struggle by organizing locally the Freedom Riders trip to the South. He continued to be very involved in politics and the Israeli-Palestinian situation. 

Ed is survived by his daughter Jolie Pearl, granddaughter Ari Pearl Butler as well as brothers Bernie, Stanley and Sherman. 

—By Bob Barr