Markley

Bob Markley

Born August 25, 1935, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and passing away September 9, 2003, in Gardena, California, Bob Markley was a notable figure in the Los Angeles music scene of the 1960s. The adopted son of an oil tycoon and a law graduate, Markley moved to Los Angeles around 1960 with aspirations of stardom. While already a local television personality in Oklahoma, his initial endeavors in Hollywood, both in film and as a pop singer, yielded limited success.

Formation of The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

Around the same period, brothers Shaun Harris (born 1946 in Colorado Springs) and Danny Harris (born 1947 in Colorado Springs), sons of composer Roy Harris, also relocated to Los Angeles. By 1963, they were performing with a teen surf band called The Snowmen. Their attendance at Hollywood Professional School in 1964 led to a meeting with Michael Lloyd (born 1948), who had previously played in various groups, most recently The Rogues. The Harris brothers and Lloyd decided to form a new band, initially named The Laughing Wind, and recorded demos for mutual friend and record producer Kim Fowley.

Fowley, already acquainted with Markley, suggested the band incorporate some of Markley's lyrics. In 1965, Fowley facilitated a private party at Markley's residence, featuring a performance by The Yardbirds, which the Harris brothers and Lloyd also attended. Markley was reportedly impressed by the band's ability to attract a large teenage following, while the younger musicians were drawn to Markley's financial resources, which offered the potential for high-quality equipment and a sophisticated light show.

Encouraged by Fowley to collaborate, and with the addition of drummer John Ware, the group coalesced into The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. The band's artistic direction was conceived to echo the experimental approach being pioneered on the East Coast by figures like Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground. Leveraging his legal expertise, Markley secured exclusive rights to the band's name.

"Markley, A Group"

The fifth and final album released under The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band moniker, titled "Markley, A Group," was presented as a solo effort by Bob Markley. Despite this presentation, the album featured the active participation of all band members, including Michael Lloyd and Danny Harris.