On January 18, 2026, Ralph Towner died aged 85. He was musician (guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet, and French horn), composer, arranger and bandleader. He was member of the bands Paul Winter Consort, Atmosphere, but was best known as founding member of Oregon. Towner has performed and recorded with Azimuth, Bill Bruford, Salvatore Bonafede, Horace Arnold, Jerry Granelli, Vince Mendoza, Maria Pia De Vito, Gary Burton, Larry Coryell, Pino Daniele, Cyrus Faryar, Robben Ford, David Friesen, Jan Garbarek, Charlie Haden, Egberto Gismonti, Gerri Granger, Trilok Gurtu, Tim Hardin, Keith Jarrett, Maria Joao, Joseph LoDuca, Andy Middleton, Duke Pearson, Terry Plumeri, Michael Portal, Kenny Wheeler and Weather Report. As leader he released 27 albums.
Tag Archives: Cyrus Faryar
The Stone Poneys: Evergreen, Vol. 2
On June 12, 1967, “Capitol” label released “Evergreen, Vol. 2”, the second Stone Poneys (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1967, at “Capitol” in Hollywood, and was produced by Nick Venet.
Personnel:
- Linda Ronstadt – lead vocals, finger cymbals
- Bobby Kimmel – guitar
- Kenny Edwards – guitar, sitar
- Jimmy Bond – bass
- Dennis Budimir – guitar
- Pete Childs – guitar
- John T. Forsha – guitar
- Bernie Leadon – guitar
- Cyrus Faryar – acoustic guitar, bouzouki
- Steve Gillette – guitar, harmony vocals
- Joe Osborn – electric bass
- Jim Gordon – drums
- Billy Mundi – drums
- Don Randi – harpsichord
- Jesse Ehrlich – strings, violin, viola, cello
- Harry Hyams – strings, violin, viola, cello
- William Kurasch – violin, viola, cello
- Stanley Plummer – strings, violin, viola, cello
- Robert Sushel – strings, violin, viola, cello
- Sidney Sharp – violin, concertmaster
- Norman Botnick – strings
- William Durasch – strings
- Leonard Malarsky – strings
- Warren Barnett – mastering
- Richie Unterberger – liner notes
- Ian McFarlane – release preparation
- Kevin Mueller – release preparation
Track listing:
- December Dream – John Braheny
- Song About the Rain – Steve Gillete
- Autumn Afternoon – Ken Edwards, Bobby Kimmel
- I’ve Got to Know – Pamela Polland
- Evergreen (Part One) – Ken Edwards, Bobby Kimmel
- Evergreen (Part Two) – Ken Edwards, Bobby Kimmel
- Different Drum – Mike Nesmith
- Driftin – Ken Edwards, Bobby Kimmel
- One for One – Al Silverman, Austin DeLone
- Back on the Street Again – Steve Gillette
- Toys in Time – Ken Edwards, Bobby Kimmel
- New Hard Times – Mayne Smith, Bobby Kimmel
Stone Poneys: Same
On January 30, 1967, “Capitol” label released the self-titled, debut Stone Poneys album. It was recorded October – November 1966, and was produced by Nik Venet.
Personnel:
- Linda Ronstadt – vocals, finger cymbals
- Bobby Kimmel – vocals, guitar
- Kenny Edwards – vocals, guitar
- Tom Wood – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Pete Childs – guitar
- Cyrus Faryar – bouzouki, guitar
- John T. Forsha – guitar
- Jimmy Bond – bass, guitar
- Billy Mundi – drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Bobby Kimmel and Ken Edwards, except where noted.
- Sweet Summer Blue and Gold
- If I Were You
- Just a Little Bit of Rain – Fred Neil
- Bicycle Song
- Orion – Tom Campbell
- Wild About My Lovin’ – traditional, arranged by Bobby Kimmel, Linda Ronstadt, Ken Edwards
- Back Home – Ken Edwards
- Meredith (On My Mind)
- Train and the River
- All the Beautiful Things
- 2:10 Train – Tom Campbell, Linda Albertano
Paul Beaver, Mort Garson, Jacques Wilson and Faryar: The Zodiac:Cosmic Sounds
In May 1967, “Elektra” label released “The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds”, concept album on the theme of the signs of the Zodiac, by Paul Beaver, Mort Garson, Jacques Wilson and Cyrus Faryar. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Alex Hassilev.
Personnel:
- Cyrus Faryar– narration
- Paul Beaver– Moog, electronic instruments
- Mike Melvoin– keyboards
- Carol Kaye– bass guitar
- Hal Blaine– drums
- Emil Richards– exotic percussion
- Bud Shank– bass flute
Track listing:
All music by Mort Garson, all lyrics by Jacques Wilson
- Aries – The Fire-Fighter
- Taurus – The Voluptuary
- Gemini – The Cool Eye
- Cancer – The Moon Child
- Leo – The Lord of Lights
- Virgo – The Perpetual Perfectionist
- Libra – The Flower Child
- Scorpio – The Passionate Hero
- Sagittarius – The Versatile Daredevil
- Capricorn – The Uncapricious Climber
- Aquarius – The Lover of Life
- Pisces – The Peace Piper
Fred Neil: Same
In December 1966, “Capitol” label released the self-titled, second Fred Neil album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Nick Venet.
Personnel:
- Fred Neil– vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, finger snapping, linear notes
- Pete Childs – acoustic and electric guitar
- John T. Forsha – acoustic and 12-string guitar
- Cyrus Faryar– acoustic guitar, bouzouki
- Rusty Faryar – finger cymbals
- Jimmy Bond – bass
- Billy Mundi– drums, cymbals, tambourine
- Alan Wilson– harmonica
- Nick Venet– sound effects
- Peter Abbott, John Kraus – engineer
- Nick Venet – art direction
- Jim Marshall, Edward Simpson – photography
- Jerry Hopkins, Bob Mehr – linear notes
- Norma Sharp – production coordinator
Track listing:
All tracks by Fred Neil, except where noted
- The Dolphins
- I’ve Got a Secret (Didn’t We Shake Sugaree) – Elizabeth Cotten
- That’s the Bag I’m In
- Badi-Da
- Faretheewell (Fred’s Tune)
- Everybody’s Talkin’
- Everything Happens
- Sweet Cocaine
- Green Rocky Road
- Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga
Mama Cass: Dream A Little Dream
On October 19, 1968, “Dunhill Records” released “Dream a Little Dream”, the debut Mama Cass solo album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Lou Adler and John Simon.
Personnel:
- Cass Elliot – vocals
- James Burton – guitar, dobro
- Stephen Stills – vocals, guitar
- Cyrus Faryar- guitar, ukulele
- Paul Harris- organ, piano
- John Sebastian- guitar, harmonica
- John Simon- piano, arrangements
- Larry Knechtel- keyboards
- Harvey Brooks- bass guitar
- Hal Blaine- drums
- Jim Gordon- drums
- Plas Johnson- saxophone
- Renais Faryar – vocals
- Brenda Holloway- backing vocals
- Henry Diltz- photography
Track listing:
- Dream a Little Dream of Me – Wilbur Schwandt, Fabian Andre, Gus Kahn
- California Earthquake – John Hartford
- The Room Nobody Lives In – John Sebastian
- Talkin’ to Your Toothbrush – John Simon
- Blues for Breakfast – Richard Manuel
- You Know Who I Am – Leonard Cohen
- Rubber Band – Cyrus Faryar
- Long Time Loving You – Stuart Scharf
- Jane, The Insane Dog Lady – John Simon
- What Was I Thinking Of – Leah Cohen
- Burn Your Hatred – Graham Nash
- Sweet Believer – Cyrus Faryar
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