The Truth behind Mormon Psychedelia: an interview with David Zandonatti
by James Bennett [Bennett.james.m@gmail.com]
Online Exclusive / Posted October 12, 2007 More Exclusives
This summer marked the fortieth anniversary of the Monterey Pop Festival—the multi-day music event that launched the harder side of the psychedelic rock movement, and ushered in the Summer of Love. As people found a voice that embraced added social, sexual and political freedom, they also began to see value in music that could stretch the traditional boundaries of the past. As a result, over space of three days in June, the hippie music torch was passed from folksier sounding bands like the Mamas and the Papas and Country Joe and the Fish to the harder and more experimental sounds of the Who and Jimi Hendrix. The wave of psychedlia that started there in Monterey would eventually stretch across the nation, taking root in San Francisco, Houston and even the Midwest. The times really were "a changin’".
Photo By Melissa Jansson
As easy as it would be to write off psychedelic rock as a reckless, drug-fueled trend, there was a serious spiritual side to it—especially early on. This was less apparent as the movement progressed (it would difficult to argue that "Purple Haze" was about anything other than getting loaded), but many early forays into psychedlia took the unexpected spiritual path. The sitar, long associated with Hindu religious music, featured prominently into the psych recordings of the Beatles—a result of George Harrison’s study of traditional Eastern religious music. Christianity also played a significant role, with the Byrds scoring a #1 hit with Turn, Turn, Turn, a song whose lyrics were taken directly from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes (via the Pete Seeger songbook). But as the music got heavier, the subtleties of openly religious music gave way to cryptic lyrics and endless guitar jams. One notable exception, a band called Tripsichord Music Box, managed to fuse overt Mormon spirituality with the hardest and most guitar-jamming music of the era. The result, a full-length LP and two singles on Matthew Katz’s San Francisco Sound label, exemplified the spiritual/psychedelic dichotomy by merging authentic psyche music with lyrics that, in their enigmatic and sometimes dark way, spelled out many of Mormonism’s deepest and most controversial doctrines.
Tripsichord spawned from an LA-based band called the Now. When the Now relocated to San Francisco in the late sixties, they would fall under the tutelage of Matthew Katz—promoter, band developer and manager of both Jefferson Airplane and Moby Grape. It was Katz who changed their name to Tripsichord Music Box—a move indicative of his efforts to be involved with every aspect of his bands’ careers. At a time when many SF bands were inking high dollar deals with Los Angeles record companies (a move that many hippie purists saw as "selling out"), Tripsichord stayed loyal to Katz and to his vision of what psychedelic music was supposed to be. The ultimate result of this decision was that Tripsichord would become a footnote in psych music history. Where Moby Grape and Jefferson Airplane parlayed their San Francisco experience into lucrative careers, Tripsichord would break up with little fanfare. In the early seventies a couple of members would relocate to Utah, start one of the first Christian rock bands (the Free Agency) and eek out a living playing Mormon youth fireside meetings as part of a collective called the Sons of Mosiah. Still, Tripsichord remains the only period psych band to have lived the full Haight-Ashbury experience while managing to stay true to their faith-based roots. To better understand where Tripsichord Music Box fit into the psych music scene, SLUG tracked down original guitarist and songwriter David Zandonatti. A convert to Mormonism in the 1960s, Zandonatti channeled much of the optimism and hope that came into his life with the restored gospel into the rock music he was writing and performing. Mr. Zandonatti was kind enough to talk with us about his work with Tripsichord, his later experiments with Christian rock and his continuing and storied music career. The following is a transcription of our conversation:
SLUG: So Tripsichord Music Box spawned from a band called the Now?
Zandonatti: I first started playing music back when I was 16. I had a band going, and these guys came over from Lompoc, California, near Vandenberg Air Force Base, and that was Frank Straight, and Randy Guzman and Oliver McKinney who ended up being Tripsichord with me, but they had a band called the Now. Well, it wasn’t even the Now, because I joined up with them and we got switched over to that name by Milton Berle’s brother. . .
SLUG: Okay, okay, you signed to Embassy Records, and that was Berle’s label…
Zandonatti: Yeah Embassy, Jack Berle, that’s how we got the name the Now. Let’s see, yeah that was, I don’t remember the year, but that was about right…’66 or something.
Photo By Melissa Jansson
As easy as it would be to write off psychedelic rock as a reckless, drug-fueled trend, there was a serious spiritual side to it—especially early on. This was less apparent as the movement progressed (it would difficult to argue that "Purple Haze" was about anything other than getting loaded), but many early forays into psychedlia took the unexpected spiritual path. The sitar, long associated with Hindu religious music, featured prominently into the psych recordings of the Beatles—a result of George Harrison’s study of traditional Eastern religious music. Christianity also played a significant role, with the Byrds scoring a #1 hit with Turn, Turn, Turn, a song whose lyrics were taken directly from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes (via the Pete Seeger songbook). But as the music got heavier, the subtleties of openly religious music gave way to cryptic lyrics and endless guitar jams. One notable exception, a band called Tripsichord Music Box, managed to fuse overt Mormon spirituality with the hardest and most guitar-jamming music of the era. The result, a full-length LP and two singles on Matthew Katz’s San Francisco Sound label, exemplified the spiritual/psychedelic dichotomy by merging authentic psyche music with lyrics that, in their enigmatic and sometimes dark way, spelled out many of Mormonism’s deepest and most controversial doctrines.
Tripsichord spawned from an LA-based band called the Now. When the Now relocated to San Francisco in the late sixties, they would fall under the tutelage of Matthew Katz—promoter, band developer and manager of both Jefferson Airplane and Moby Grape. It was Katz who changed their name to Tripsichord Music Box—a move indicative of his efforts to be involved with every aspect of his bands’ careers. At a time when many SF bands were inking high dollar deals with Los Angeles record companies (a move that many hippie purists saw as "selling out"), Tripsichord stayed loyal to Katz and to his vision of what psychedelic music was supposed to be. The ultimate result of this decision was that Tripsichord would become a footnote in psych music history. Where Moby Grape and Jefferson Airplane parlayed their San Francisco experience into lucrative careers, Tripsichord would break up with little fanfare. In the early seventies a couple of members would relocate to Utah, start one of the first Christian rock bands (the Free Agency) and eek out a living playing Mormon youth fireside meetings as part of a collective called the Sons of Mosiah. Still, Tripsichord remains the only period psych band to have lived the full Haight-Ashbury experience while managing to stay true to their faith-based roots. To better understand where Tripsichord Music Box fit into the psych music scene, SLUG tracked down original guitarist and songwriter David Zandonatti. A convert to Mormonism in the 1960s, Zandonatti channeled much of the optimism and hope that came into his life with the restored gospel into the rock music he was writing and performing. Mr. Zandonatti was kind enough to talk with us about his work with Tripsichord, his later experiments with Christian rock and his continuing and storied music career. The following is a transcription of our conversation:
SLUG: So Tripsichord Music Box spawned from a band called the Now?
Zandonatti: I first started playing music back when I was 16. I had a band going, and these guys came over from Lompoc, California, near Vandenberg Air Force Base, and that was Frank Straight, and Randy Guzman and Oliver McKinney who ended up being Tripsichord with me, but they had a band called the Now. Well, it wasn’t even the Now, because I joined up with them and we got switched over to that name by Milton Berle’s brother. . .
SLUG: Okay, okay, you signed to Embassy Records, and that was Berle’s label…
Zandonatti: Yeah Embassy, Jack Berle, that’s how we got the name the Now. Let’s see, yeah that was, I don’t remember the year, but that was about right…’66 or something.
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Posted on November 10, 2007 by Mac Rinehart
I used to listen to the Blue D'Arts down at the Cafe Paradiso in Bend (before it closed). Great sound! I wish I had a CD. Also went to COCC with Mr. Zandonatti's daughter and worked with her on the Student Activities Commission. I'd love to reconnect if you can help. Cheers!
Posted on November 17, 2007 by David Straight
I new a Frank Straight who lived in Ventura, CA and played lead guitar for a band called "Natie Bumpo" (sp?). I wonder if this is the same person - the time frame seems about right.
Posted on November 18, 2007 by David Straight
er...I meant to type, "I knew a Frank Straight." Anyway, I met Frank Straight for the first time around 1979 or 1980. I knew that he played lead guitar in a band called Natty Bumppo. I lived in Santa Maria which is very close to Lompoc and VAFB. During that time frame Frank regularly drove from Ventura, CA to Santa Maria, CA to visit relatives. The Frank I remembered was an unusually quiet person - almost lethargic.
Posted on February 20, 2009 by Ron McNeely
Well you really captured the essence of Dave Zandonatti with this photo and I can safely bet that David didn't pay for that meal. Yeah Dave Z forgot to tell you about the first band either one of us was in. Dave played an old arch-top Kay electric, I played drums and sang lead, and our third man was a friend named Jeff Morring who doubled on keyboards and trombone. Kind of a Jazz power trio! Our first gig was in a pizza house/pool room in Solvang California called 'The Place' Then there was the day Dave and I were walking down Haight Street in San Francisco and stopped to hear Bill Carr doing some great original guitar and vocal work. He was singing with a guy named John who was a good friend of his, but we only wanted Bill. We told Matthew Katz about him and Bill was a member of Tripsichord like the next day! We really did some great music .. it's too bad we never really made any great money, but the memories are worth a fortune. Dave was passing through a couple of months ago and we broke out some guitars .. after all these years the old guys could still kick out the jams. Ron
Posted on December 14, 2009 by Harry J. Johnson
I used to hang with Tripsichord when I converted to Mormonism in Solvang, CA. Then went with them to Matthew's place on Hill Street in San Francisco and later to Provo. Last time I saw Dave and Randy was in the early '80s in Santa Barbara. Drop me a line, guys. I'm in SF.
Posted on December 24, 2009 by lawrence R Reed
Hi David, your a hard guy to get a hold of, is Bill OK? I sure do miss all you guys, things just Happin after the Mar, 5th, com.last I heard was Bills son was going into cement work? long time ago, how are you and yours? If you get a chance could you em me or tellBill my em, ok? I'm allso on facebook Lawrence R Reed.MerryChristmass to you and all, lv, Larry Reed.
Posted on December 31, 2009 by John Berg
The Zandonatti story gets particularly interesting to me when he brings up the band "Natty Bumppo". You see, there was a Washington, DC, area band working under that name from around 1967 to 1970, and they released at least three singles on the Phillips/Mercury label. I've been in touch with a couple band members, one who now runs an art gallery in the Denver area, the other residing in Hawaii, and they tell me another member named Chuck lives in the Portland, OR, area. I'm told that he became a Christian (not a Mormon) and went that direction with his music, but this would have been after leaving the DC area. The MYSTERY for me has been that the name of a band called "Natty Bumpo" appears on Portland rock concert posters from around the '68-'69 period, alongside one of my faves "The New Tweedy Brothers", and I have been trying to figure out who this particular "Natty Bumpo" was since the fellows from the DC band that I've spoken with told me they never played the West Coast. They surmise that perhaps Chuck put together a new band under the same name and did those Portland shows? Now I am wondering if maybe those gigs were done by the David Zandonatti "Natty Bumppo" group? Thus far nobody I know has been able to come up with any tapes of those shows, which would clarify matters a tiny bit, as the set list would reveal whether they played any of the songs associated with the Wash DC band that issued three singles. By the way, I also have a tape containing 5 demos by the Wash DC band, with at least one of those songs being re-recorded in a NYC studio for the band's second single on Mercury. The demos feature a different lead female singer than the actual 45s, which adds yet another layer to the MYSTERY that was "Natty Bumpo".
Posted on March 1, 2010 by oliver mckinney
oliver mckinney here... Just hoping to get an email address for David Zandonatti, Frank Straight or randy Guczman. I heard from Randy via the phone along time ago but that's it. Sure would like to touch base with the guys again. oliver
Posted on March 5, 2010 by mike
hi,i just got a signed tripsichord music box times and seasons 45, it is signed on the sleeve by dave zandonatti,ron mcneely,and there are 2 other signatures i cant find out who they are, delvin moose harris, and jan nalley does anyone know who they are? please let me know thanks
Posted on March 15, 2010 by David Straight
Oliver I've recently been in contact with Frank Straight. He's in Lancaster and plays every Sunday evening at VFW. I have his cell number and called him just last night. My email is silver_mica at yahoo dot com.
Posted on October 14, 2010 by Dag Warner
Where can I find the David Z cd? Send me a mail: records@online.no
Posted on October 14, 2010 by Dag Warner
Where can I find the David Z cd? Send me a mail: records@online.no
Posted on February 3, 2011 by Craig R. Pedersen
I new Frank Straight in Lompoc California in 1964-66 when the group called themselves The Ban. I was working with another Lompoc band, and a Santa Maria Band called “Something Wild?, the first band of Bill Payne of “Little Feat?. I have early pictures of “The Ban?, Who became “NOW? then “Tripsicord Music Box?. If you’re interested they are on the Website for my later band, “Uther Pendragon?. The Ban was managed by Randy’s mother at the time. http://pendragon.homestead.com/The_Ban.html
Posted on February 3, 2011 by Bennett
@Craig, thanks for the link. I'm amazed at how much attention this little article keeps getting. Maybe we could convince the guys to play a few shows . . .
Posted on March 4, 2011 by Mark Sanchez
I went to high school in Santa Ynez with Dave Zandonatti, and as I recall, his first band was named "The Undertakers." Dave quit the group to join the "Ban" as noted by previous commenters. Both bands (and also "Something Wild" with Bill Payne) played regularly at the Royal Dolphin Club in Solvang in the middle sixties. Dave and I both took guitar lessons from Lou Diaz, who was the source of the above referenced Kay guitar. Lou (who now lives in Texas) was in town last summer, and I sat down and played with him for about 3 hours. He still plays great.
Posted on June 20, 2011 by Kaye Waller
Hey Ron McNeely! Hope you remember me. I'm Jack & Wauneta Waller's daughter from Solvang Southern Baptist Church. My mom and your mom were good friends. My foster sister, Ginger, dated David Z for a short while. Now, for everyone else: I went to the Dolphin Club every single weekend while they were in business. I also remember the Sorensens had a place for a while called The Soaring Sun. I went there once with Bill Randall (a friend of Ron's and a gifted painter). Weren't the Undertakers made up of a couple of Sorensen brothers, David Z, and Bobby Shelly? I'm currently writing a series of articles for the Ojai & Ventura View about the bands of the tri-counties from the mid-60s to the late 80s. If you have any info or band pix you'd like to submit, send them to skwaller@gmail.com and I'll give you full credit. I'd love to interview anyone who has info. All of these bands you mention, yeah, I remember them too. Great conversation here!
Posted on August 15, 2011 by Greg Jackson
I was in Natty Bumppo with Dave for many years and have been trying to contact him. I have many old band and song recordings I want to share with him.
Posted on August 20, 2011 by jeff silbernagel
always loved the music scene being a native of new orleans. I found myself in sisters oregon for about 4 years (2003 - 2007) and really liked David's songwriting and grooves. I caught many shows with David, Dennis, and other sisters muscians at angelina's bakery. Just listened to his CD the other day, its good stuff. Thanks David for the tunes. cheers.
Posted on September 6, 2011 by David Straight
I will probably meet with Frank Straight this weekend 9/9/2011. He's my uncle. We'll probably play some guitar together.
Posted on September 13, 2011 by David Straight
I just got back from seeing Frank play live with his band. I'm in contact with him. I set up a Facebook page and his own website www.frankstraight.com I'll put his Facebook account onto his personal webpage.
Posted on November 17, 2011 by Frank Straght
I loved reading everyones comments. To all the musicians mentioned, I would love to hear from you and talk and possibly play a few tunes with the guys again. These comments brought back great memories. Please contact me at www.frankstraight.com or get intouch with my nephew David Straight.
Posted on November 17, 2011 by David A. Straight
Hey, Frank tells me he'd like to get in touch with David et. al. Please send me an email at silver_mica@yahoo.com if you would like to get in touch with Frank. Or, visit his website at www.frankstraight.com (I'm the web master for that site).
Posted on November 22, 2011 by Frank Straight
To all the musicians mentioned, Randy Guzman, Oliver McKinney, Greg Jackson, It would be great to hear from you. Please send me a e-mail. I would love to get togeather again. My e-mail is Ah_yeah@netzero.net Sincerely Frank
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