Hitmaker Jack Tempchin comes to The Fret House
Posted on Jul 17 2010
Link: http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_15525479
Tempchin has played in several bands and is a successful solo artist, opening for acts like Ringo Starr, Jackson Browne, Dolly Parton and Chicago. His most recent album is the 2008 effort, "Songs" (Night River Records). Tempchin will be performing at the Fret House in Covina on Saturday.
Hitmaker Jack Tempchin comes to the Fret House
By Michelle J. Mills, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/15/2010 03:29:38 PM PDT
Singer/songwriter Jack Tempchin...His name should sound familiar, although Jack Tempchin may be better known for his work behind the scenes than his talent on the stage.
The Encinitas singer/songwriter is most noted for penning the Eagles' hit, "Peaceful Easy Feeling." He also wrote "Slow Dancin' (Swayin' to the Music)" for Johnny Rivers and tunes for artists such as George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker and Richie Havens. He has also co-written with musicians like Glenn Frey. Tempchin's tunes have appeared in a number of films, including "The Big Lebowski," "Thelma and Louise" and "The Lonely Guy" and been covered by Jay-Z and Coolio.
Tempchin has played in several bands and is a successful solo artist, opening for acts like Ringo Starr, Jackson Browne, Dolly Parton and Chicago. His most recent album is the 2008 effort, "Songs" (Night River Records). Tempchin will be performing at the Fret House in Covina on Saturday.
"I've been so fortunate," Tempchin said. "I got to (play music) all through the `60s and the `70s, which were amazingly exciting creative times, and I got to be exposed to and get to know some amazingly talented people. It's been a glorious fun ride."
There weren't any musicians in Tempchin's family, but at 18, he found himself enchanted by Bob Dylan and the folk rock scene.
"Everybody was playing guitar, so I started with harmonica," he said. "I rode my bike up to the music store and got a harmonica one day and I just started playing with it. A couple years later, I took up guitar."
He studied psychology, English and music at San Diego State College (now University) and began running The Back Door, a coffeehouse on campus, during his senior year. It was there, Tempchin said, that he wrote the seminal tune, "Already Gone," on which he is now credited as a co-writer with The Eagles.
"I started writing songs pretty quickly because I wasn't very good at the guitar or singing either, actually," he said. "I tried to learn a song and do it and my friends would go, `What did you do to that song?' So I thought, well, I'll just make up my own songs."
Soon other musicians at the venue were asking Tempchin if they could play his tunes, which he happily allowed. He realized he had a talent for songwriting and within in a few years, his work was being recorded by other artists. Tempchin's talent for lyrics was refined during his years playing in coffeehouses. He would perform an unfinished song and watch how the audience reacted, then he would change it accordingly until he felt it worked.
"You do the same thing with yourself as the audience," he said. "You write something and if you read what you've just written and it moves you somehow; you go, `Wow, that's pretty cool."'
At the Fret House, Tempchin will take the stage with his harmonica and guitar, offering up hits, new songs, humorous tunes and good banter.
"I love talking with the crowd," Tempchin said.
He still also enjoys sharing his music with other artists.
"Every time someone does one of my songs they're actually making it their own," Tempchin said. "You have to take it in and you have to bring it back out as part of yourself.
"I'm in love with a lot of the great songs of all time and they mean a lot to me, so when I can write something someone can use in that way, I'm thrilled."
Tempchin has a website, www.peacefuleasyfeeling.com. There, he shares the story behind the hit song and encourages others to share their experiences with it and how the tune has influenced or inspired them.
Tempchin is also currently working on a solo album, featuring only his voice, guitar and harmonica, and is planning a band album featuring original songs that have not been previously recorded.
"It's a glorious life," he said.
JACK TEMPCHIN
8 p.m. Saturday
Fret House, 309 N. Citrus, Covina
$15, all ages
626-339-7020
www.frethouse.com, www.peacefuleasyfeeling.com
By Michelle J. Mills, Staff Writer
Posted: 07/15/2010 03:29:38 PM PDT
Singer/songwriter Jack Tempchin...His name should sound familiar, although Jack Tempchin may be better known for his work behind the scenes than his talent on the stage.
The Encinitas singer/songwriter is most noted for penning the Eagles' hit, "Peaceful Easy Feeling." He also wrote "Slow Dancin' (Swayin' to the Music)" for Johnny Rivers and tunes for artists such as George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker and Richie Havens. He has also co-written with musicians like Glenn Frey. Tempchin's tunes have appeared in a number of films, including "The Big Lebowski," "Thelma and Louise" and "The Lonely Guy" and been covered by Jay-Z and Coolio.
Tempchin has played in several bands and is a successful solo artist, opening for acts like Ringo Starr, Jackson Browne, Dolly Parton and Chicago. His most recent album is the 2008 effort, "Songs" (Night River Records). Tempchin will be performing at the Fret House in Covina on Saturday.
"I've been so fortunate," Tempchin said. "I got to (play music) all through the `60s and the `70s, which were amazingly exciting creative times, and I got to be exposed to and get to know some amazingly talented people. It's been a glorious fun ride."
There weren't any musicians in Tempchin's family, but at 18, he found himself enchanted by Bob Dylan and the folk rock scene.
"Everybody was playing guitar, so I started with harmonica," he said. "I rode my bike up to the music store and got a harmonica one day and I just started playing with it. A couple years later, I took up guitar."
He studied psychology, English and music at San Diego State College (now University) and began running The Back Door, a coffeehouse on campus, during his senior year. It was there, Tempchin said, that he wrote the seminal tune, "Already Gone," on which he is now credited as a co-writer with The Eagles.
"I started writing songs pretty quickly because I wasn't very good at the guitar or singing either, actually," he said. "I tried to learn a song and do it and my friends would go, `What did you do to that song?' So I thought, well, I'll just make up my own songs."
Soon other musicians at the venue were asking Tempchin if they could play his tunes, which he happily allowed. He realized he had a talent for songwriting and within in a few years, his work was being recorded by other artists. Tempchin's talent for lyrics was refined during his years playing in coffeehouses. He would perform an unfinished song and watch how the audience reacted, then he would change it accordingly until he felt it worked.
"You do the same thing with yourself as the audience," he said. "You write something and if you read what you've just written and it moves you somehow; you go, `Wow, that's pretty cool."'
At the Fret House, Tempchin will take the stage with his harmonica and guitar, offering up hits, new songs, humorous tunes and good banter.
"I love talking with the crowd," Tempchin said.
He still also enjoys sharing his music with other artists.
"Every time someone does one of my songs they're actually making it their own," Tempchin said. "You have to take it in and you have to bring it back out as part of yourself.
"I'm in love with a lot of the great songs of all time and they mean a lot to me, so when I can write something someone can use in that way, I'm thrilled."
Tempchin has a website, www.peacefuleasyfeeling.com. There, he shares the story behind the hit song and encourages others to share their experiences with it and how the tune has influenced or inspired them.
Tempchin is also currently working on a solo album, featuring only his voice, guitar and harmonica, and is planning a band album featuring original songs that have not been previously recorded.
"It's a glorious life," he said.
JACK TEMPCHIN
8 p.m. Saturday
Fret House, 309 N. Citrus, Covina
$15, all ages
626-339-7020
www.frethouse.com, www.peacefuleasyfeeling.com