A Snappy Attraction

The Celebration of the Strip Mall. The Fiesta del Fog. The Strawberry Fields Whatever Festival. Those events may or may not be forthcoming, but there already seems to be some sort of festival somewhere every weekend.

One of the oldest local celebrations is Conejo Valley Days, which began 41 years ago, or back when there may have been somewhere near 1,000 oaks in the area. Not only does the event excel at longevity, but apparently it has the most money, because it has the best music lineup.

In addition to a show by Westlake Village local (by way of New York) Eddie Money, country star Juice Newton will sing her biggie, “Queen of Hearts,” and Flattop Tom & the Jump Cats will get those swing dancers spinning. Plenty of local bands such as the Lizards of Wisdom get a hometown slot, and the Turtles, still crawling along in fine style since the ‘60s, will have a Friday evening gig.

High school pals Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan started a surf band in the early ‘60s called the Crossfires. Later, they grew their hair long and formed the Turtles, a band that had a string of hits beginning in 1965 with a Bob Dylan cover, “It Ain’t Me Babe.” In 1967, “Happy Together” hit the top of the charts. These days, the Turtles still play, they can still sing, and Volman discussed the latest during a phone chat.

*

Why a surf band?

If you grew up in the South Bay, you either played surf music or else were in a surf club. At that time, surf music was at its peak. It was an innocent time, and the music was reflective of that. It just allowed us to do something on the weekends instead of working at a gas station or something like that. That band got us discovered and led to a lifelong career. I blame everything on the Crossfires.

*

What was it like being a rock star in those silly ‘60s?

We really didn’t get to enjoy the rock star thing. Bands like the Byrds and Paul Revere & the Raiders were all signed to big labels, and we signed with a very small label and were continuously under the gun to produce hit songs.

*

How has radio changed since then?

Back then, the dynamics of radio invited listeners. I used to get excited listening to deejays like Dave Hull, Huggy Boy and B. Mitchell Reed--those were guys who were playing music that mattered to them. You could hear Motown, Phillie girl groups, country from Johnny Cash and folk from Peter, Paul & Mary. Nowadays, radio is run by giant corporations that have programmers and playlists. Music is just something that happens between commercials.

*

Tell me a Beatles story.

The Beatles were big fans of the Turtles. When we went over to England the first time in 1967, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and the Stones came to see us. Most of them had never even been to the West Coast and heard the sound of California. Most of those bands were uninformed about or incapable of doing what we were doing.

*

The Turtles played the White House. How was that?

We played in 1970 for Tricia Nixon, and we had a great time. They treated us first class. It was a party for the kids of all the senators and representatives, so everyone was allowed to bring a date, and not everyone there was a Republican. Not everyone was in favor of what was happening in Vietnam, and there was a lot of subversive literature being passed around. We didn’t do it for any political reasons, we just figured it would be a hoot to play the White House, and it was.

*

Have the Rhino reissues been successful?

All the reissues have done very well. They perpetuate the myth that we’re more popular than the Beatles. They don’t play anymore, and the Beach Boys charge too much, but we’re still a band out there working hard. We’re very happy where we are. We do a pretty good business every year. I can’t think of a better way to make a living.

*

If not a Turtle, then what?

I’d probably be teaching full time. I teach a music business course at Loyola Marymount.

*

What’s the gist of the course?

If you don’t have a good knowledge of how the music business works, I guarantee it will grind you into mush.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Who’s Playing

Here is the musical lineup for Conejo Valley Days.

Today: Wild Heart plays country music at 6:45 p.m. Warner Sankman plays folk songs for children at 8 p.m. Juice Newton plays country music at 8:30 p.m.

Friday: Your Moose is a folk duo at 7 p.m. Frank Morgan plays R&B; music at 7:30 p.m. Turtles play folk rock at 8 p.m. Visions plays classic rock at 9:30 p.m. Lizards of Wisdom play original rock at 10:30 p.m.

Saturday: Chrissy Lomax plays original and classic rock at 7 p.m. Sweet Country plays country music at 7:30 p.m. Eddie Money plays original rock at 8:30 p.m. Midnight Train plays country music at 9:30 p.m. Peter & the Wolves play original rock at 10:30 p.m.

Sunday: Paul Delay plays blues at 1 p.m. Leatherwood plays bluesy rock at 1:35 p.m. Terry Sue Crawford plays country music at 2:55 p.m. Bruce Brothers Band plays blues at 3 p.m. The Edge plays original rock at 4:15 p.m. Flattop Tom & the Jump Cats play swing music at 5 p.m.

BE THERE

Conejo Valley Days, today through Sunday. Conejo Creek Park, Janss Road and the Moorpark Freeway. Adults $5, seniors and students $3, children 6 to 12, $2. Call 371-8730.

Mark Volman, shown with partner Howard Kaylan, right.