Scott McKenzie has passed. He sang this sixties anthem:

[Are_grits_groceries]

"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" is a song, written by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, and sung by Scott McKenzie. It was written and released in June 1967 to promote the Monterey Pop Festival. McKenzie's song became an instant hit.
The lyrics tell the listeners, "If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair". Due to the difference between the lyrics and the actual title, the title is often quoted as "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)".
"San Francisco" reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and was number one in the United Kingdom and most of Europe. The single is purported to have sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The song is credited with bringing thousands of young people to San Francisco, California during the late 1960s.[citation needed]
In Central Europe, young people adopted "San Francisco" as an anthem for freedom, and it was widely played during Czechoslovakia's 1968 Prague Spring uprising against Soviet rule.[citation needed] The song has been featured in several films, including Frantic, The Rock and Forrest Gump (Wikipedia).
(from youtube)

Sigh........
Such a gentle song. If only it had created a reality that would last.

Fair winds and following seas to you Scott McKenzie. Be sure to wear flowers in your hair on the journey. RIP......

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Wow

This has been a bad year....

The movie Forrest Gump really did great weaving songs like his, into the scenes, and in context to what was happening.

R.I.P.

[pinboy3niner]

2. I saw him 10 years ago at the Wall in D.C.

He came out to perform at the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in support of Vietnam veterans, and he spoke at that year's ceremonies at the Wall. He met and spoke to a lot of us afterward. So sad to lose him.

R.I.P.

[KurtNYC]

3. Was Mackenzie Phillips named for this guy?

She is John Phillips first daughter. No clues here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie_Phillips

A surprisingly powerful and haunting song that embodies the dream of a better world. Scott's voice is the perfect fit -- neither too strong nor too frail, just very intimate and human.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. Great description of Scott and that song! nt

[vankuria]

9. I read somewhere she was

I think also remember reading Scott Mackenzie was her Godfather too.

[Pool Hall Ace]

18. Actually, it was her (middle) name first.

His birth name is Philip Wallach Blondheim. Her birth name is Laura Mackenzie Phillips

from wikipedia:

"At one of these parties I complained that nobody could understand my real name ... [and] pointed out that this was a definite liability in a profession that benefited from instant name recognition. Everyone started trying to come up with a new name for me. It was [comedian] Jackie Curtis who said he thought I looked like a Scottie dog. Phillips came up with Laura's middle name after Jackie's suggestion. I didn't like being called "Scottie" so everybody agreed my new name could be Scott McKenzie."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_McKenzie

That song was one of my first favorite "grownup" songs. RIP, Scott!

[Jim Lane]

23. I think she was named for her grandmother

I read her book a while back. As Pool Hall Ace said, her birth name was Laura Mackenzie Phillips, and I think "Mackenzie" was her grandmother's maiden name.

When she appeared in American Graffiti, somebody connected with promoting the movie thought that "Laura Phillips" was too bland a name. They billed her in the movie as "Mackenzie Phillips" -- a fact she learned at the premiere when the credits rolled.

[GP6971]

4. RIP. n/t

[joeybee12]

5. Great song...RIP Scott

KNR

[cascadiance]

6. Everyone in San Francisco should wear a flower in their hair today...

Last edited Mon Aug 20, 2012, 09:57 AM - Edit history (1)

Not only in honor of Scott, but to send a message that we care about what we've lost since the 60's when "the people" had more of a voice then.

Another song, a relevant question for him about "What's the difference" if he goes today. Let's make sure that we show others there is a difference that Scott made...

&feature=fvwrel

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. When I hear 'San Francisco', I always think of ths song:

I always wonder how many people who left SF or never made it there became ramblers. I think Vietnam, the assassinations, and everything else created a generation of ramblers.

Some were literal ramblers and some rambled in their minds. Both groups were searching for another time yet to come not unlike 'The Once And Future King.' Many are still rambling.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Damn....our era is rapidly drawing to a close...

Such a lovely song, it still moves me, and brings back lovely memories of a more hopeful world, all those years ago.

Heavy sigh....

[DFW]

12. Once back in the early seventies, Scott McKenzie showed up unannounced

I was in college, and we had just seen a film in the University's auditorium, when suddenly a student came out with a microphone and said Scott McKenzie was there and would give a free concert to all who wanted to stick around- Most of us stuck around.

The one song he wouldn't sing was "San Francisco," saying times had changed, and the lyrics no longer reflected reality. He obviously relented later on, but even so, his songs were all ones I have never heard before or since, and it was a wonderful concert. His voice was the same as it always was--soothing and comforting. He was alone, accompanying himself on a big Guild 212-XL twelve string guitar.

[flamingdem]

19. You were fortunate

Little did we know we were in such a golden age for music back then

[DFW]

22. I was part of one of the first progressive rock bands in the DC area in the sixties

We called ourselves the Clockwork Orange, after the book, and 3 years BEFORE the film.

Long after we had disbanded, another group took up the name, after the film had made it famous. I was only 15, and had to hide after performances as I was under age. We did get to play with a couple of cool groups, tho!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambassador_Theater_%28Washington,_DC%29

[flamingdem]

15. I still get teary almost every time!

[dixiegrrrrl]

21. My heart smiles when I hear the song.

Tim Buckley's "Once I Was ( a Soldier)" makes me teary eyed every time.

[Liberal_Dog]

11. I Was Two Years Old During The Summer Of Love

But everytime I hear "San Francisco", I feel like I was actually there.

[struggle4progress]

13. :(

[Are_grits_groceries]

14. As evening slowly seeps into the day, the flowers wait in vain.

Melancholy goodby......

[flamingdem]

16. A few days before Scott's death he wrote ... XPOST from Late Breaking News - his last poem!

CountAllVotes (10,919 posts)
4. A few days before Scott's death he wrote ...

View profile
His last Facebook message included a poem written just days before his death.

The Final Ride
© Scott McKenzie (17 August 2012)

But, OH! How I wish I was a true cowboy,
with a great Appaloosa waiting to gallop away,
me sitting on his back, deep into my desert,
far beyond my precious Joshua Tree,
where dreams are made, beautiful dreams,
but this time I need to travel deep into the unknown.
And will I ever come back?
Right now I say no, never.
Oh well, a dream's a dream's a dream's a dream.

Oh, but my mighty Appalooosa's eyes keep firing up,
and his nostrils keep flaring as he transcends the stink and pettiness beneath him,
half riding, half flying toward place still unscarred by any unnatural activity.

ONWARD AND UPWARD! FULL SPEED AHEAD,
MY BEAUTIFUL, MAJESTIC APPALOOSA!
CARRY US ALL TO THE REGIONS WHERE WE CAN DREAM,
WITH NO FEAR AT ALL,
UNINTERRUPTED AND FOREVER FREE FROM FEAR

[PCIntern]

17. AGG: Thank you for posting this and the link/tune...

what a time it was for song and film...nothing to touch it since.

[spanone]

20. he also co-wrote the beach boys hit....KOKOMO

Last edited Mon Aug 20, 2012, 07:53 PM - Edit history (1)

RIP