Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
The 'Art, Music And Life' Of Commander Cody
Listen
• 10:16
George Frayne, better known as Commander Cody, has been making music with his band, The Lost Planet Airmen, for decades. Their work sits prominently on Rolling Stone's Top 100 albums of all time. But past the boogie-woogie, swing, country and rock is another side to Commander Cody: George Frayne, the visual artist.
He earned a master's degree in sculpture and painting from the University of Michigan. His work has shown in exhibits from Austin to Tokyo. One of his videos is on display at the Museum of Modern Art. And now, he has a new book called Art, Music and Life.
Frayne's quote on the cover sums it up pretty well: "I have been painting for a long time. I have been rocking for almost as long. The tales of adventures in both cases run together, and in some cases, intersect. Here are the stories and the art of these moments."
The book contains pop-art portraits of music legends from Willie Nelson and Jerry Garcia to Sarah Vaughan and Charles Mingus. It also showcases abstract works, still lifes and elaborately painted sculptures.
Support for LAist comes from
From Artist To Musician And Back
Frayne's movement from art to music occurred at the spur of the moment. After completing college, he was working in the sculpture department of a university in Wisconsin. When he received a call from his friend, guitarist Bill Kirchen, telling him the bands out west were adopting a country sound, Frayne headed west. He discovered almost immediate success.
"I got to California on June 4, 1969, and by Aug. 28, we were opening up for The Grateful Dead," he says.
Frayne's book is filled with anecdotes of a bygone era, each story accompanied by colorful portraits and paintings. He recalls meeting Hunter S. Thompson, Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa and other cultural icons.
Following some self-admittedly poor albums with the Airmen, the band broke up and Frayne began concentrating solely on painting. But after a long hiatus, he reformed The Lost Planet Airmen in 2009 and recorded Dopers, Drunks and Everyday Losers.
"The comeback has been really great," Frayne says. "Who would've known that I would even live to be 65 years old? Lord knows I'm still alive and rockin'."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist