The Monkees / Jimi Hendrix / The Sundowners / Lynne Randell

Linda Moak Mar 05, 2021

My family had moved to Richmond, VA from Portland, OR earlier in 1967. I was 14 years old, and a rabid Monkees fan. When I learned that The Monkees were coming to Portland, but not Richmond, my 14-year old teeny bopper self was bereft. My dad knew how much it meant to me, so he my mom planned a surprise weekend trip for the family to fly to Charlotte for the concert. I went with my brother Randy, who was 11 at the time. My teenage brain was blown by visual and lighting effects (very much cutting edge for the time), and the amazing music, which featured all their hits, plus mini-sets highlighting the talents of each band member. This set to rest the arguments that they were a manufactured band, and couldn't sing or play instruments themselves. Randy hadn't really discovered Rock/Pop music, yet but he willingly went along. What makes this concert history-making in the annals of rock music was that this was one of only a few concerts featuring Jimi Hendrix opening for the Monkees. He joined the tour that year for just a few weeks before concluding that playing to huge arenas of screaming teenage girls (most of whom had no ideas who he was) just wasn't his bag. For years, whenever I told the story of Jimi Hendrix opening for The Monkees, nobody believed me, and said I must be mistaken. Over time I began to doubt myself. Imagine my delight when the Internet finally came into being, and I eventually found an article confirming my memories of Jimi Hendricks. Vindication was sweet! My brother now loves the fact that he was there with me. It's a favorite concert memory for both of us. One last note: British Pop star Lulu was also on the line-up. Her big hit was "To Sir With Love" (from the Sidney Poitier movie of the same name).