The L.A. Musical History Tour
The Palomino
6907 Lankershim, North Hollywood
The Palomino has long been Los Angeles's premier country music nightclub,
and in the
1980s extended its scope into other areas of music.
Founded in 1949 by country singer Hank Penny (who took the club name from
the collar
of a cowboy shirt), the Palomino was sold to two brothers form Indiana,
Tommy and Billy
Thomas, in 1950, and proceeded to become one of the most important country
music
showcases in the world, booking Johnny Cash, Lefty Frizzell, Patsy Cline,
Buck Owens,
Merle Haggard, Linda Ronstadt, Waylon Jennings, and countless others.
During the 1980s, under scion Bill Thomas, the Palomino's Focus became more
diffuse.
Elvis Costello played here with Ray Campi opening. Bob Dylan, George Harrison,
and
John Fogerty jammed one night with Taj Mahal and Jesse Ed Davis. Jerry Lee
Lewis still
fills the place, but so do the Paladins, Junkyard, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.