Hermosa Beach honors 'legendary artists' of '40s
Plaques at Pier Plaza harken back to the days that jazz musicians help put the city on the world music map.
By Deepa Bharath
Daily Breeze
You had to strain your ears to listen to that music.
You had to focus and hear past the pounding techno beat, the hip-hop, whooping twentysomethings and the clinking of beer glasses and dishes on Sunday afternoon at Hermosa Beach's Pier Avenue to hear those perfect notes and that soft drumbeat.
The fluid sounds flowed effortlessly from the instruments of the musicians who once dominated the local jazz scene, playing weekend after weekend at the famous Lighthouse Cafe, renowned all over the world for its finger-snapping, soul-stirring jazz.
The musicians came to Hermosa Beach to celebrate the unveiling of bronze plaques honoring jazz musicians who put the city on the world map from the early '40s.
The 18-inch-by-16-inch plaques, mounted on the sides of granite cubes, now stand on Pier Plaza in the vicinity of The Lighthouse Cafe, where musician Howard Rumsey and owner John Levine in 1949 created a world-famous venue for jazz. Rumsey's band, The Lighthouse All Stars, recorded "Live at the Lighthouse," at the restaurant, which put Hermosa Beach on the jazz map.
On one of the plaques were these words summarizing the purpose of these markers: "The memorial plaques on Pier Plaza are our standing ovation to the legendary artists who enriched our city with their music and brought historic acclaim to Hermosa Beach, the Jazz Corner of the West."
Longtime Hermosa Beach resident Ozzie Cadena single-handedly raised more than $10,000 for the plaques over the past five years.
"The city is well-known for jazz music as is the Lighthouse," he said. "It's an important part of our history and this is something that needed to be done to recognize all the great musicians who made it happen."
The Lighthouse Cafe was the hot spot of the jazz movement in the '40s, said city Parks Commissioner Robert Bell.
"Ozzie is still raising more money so we can continue to put more plaques," he said. "We do have room to grow on Pier Plaza."
Cadena was recognized by the city with a commendation presented by Mayor J. R. Reviczky.
Several members of the audience fondly reminisced about the golden age of jazz in Hermosa several decades ago.
Ron Garfield and Don McVicar, who used to work together as mechanics at TWA, talked about the good times and great music at The Lighthouse.
"You don't see or hear these people that much any more," said McVicar. "It's sad because not only is it an art form, it's America's art form."
Garfield said he cannot forget hearing Gerry Mulligan and the Modern Jazz Quartet at the Lighthouse, among others.
"This music stays with me," he said. "It's has such a lasting impression on me."
Manhattan Beach resident Carly Schwartz said she had no idea about the event, but she stumbled into it while walking on The Strand with her son.
"I came down here a lot when they had jazz at the Lighthouse," she said. "It's great that they are doing something like this."
The Lighthouse Cafe still has jazz, but only Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., said General Manager Teresa Falcone. The restaurant just celebrated its 56th year, she said.
"We now have rock 'n' roll, hip-hop, punk rock and just all kinds of music," she said. "We have to keep up with 2005. But the plaques show our history and what we were all about."
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