By Ed Munson

Editor – Desert Entertainer

April 29, 2004

          At first, I thought I would be interviewing another musician with a rich and storied past that would shed light on how he came to be here in the valley. 

          It takes a particular combination of talents to accomplish that which John Malcolm Penn has done.  John is a rare man who has researched various California historical facts, legends and sites, written songs about them and put them on CD’s.  He is a consummate storyteller.

          I’m not sure anyone else has done or is now performing this great service.  Perhaps the closest thing would be the Native American storyteller who keeps cultural history alive through stories passed down through many generations.  Yet, all of this oral history, masterfully laid down in words and music, is only a part of what John can do.

          You might find him working any casual gig in the valley.  I found him playing poolside at the Palm Spring Riviera Resort.  Most any guitar player can do a “Margaritaville” gig, but bringing California history to life in song enriches all who listen.

          My eyes, ears and mind were opened wide upon hearing his three historical CD’s.  Just wait until you hear these remarkable stories.  This is truly American Folk Music. 

Instruments:

          Guitar, banjo, mandolin, mandocello, autoharp, dulcimer, dobro. 

Genre:

       Folk, Americana

Contact:

       (760) 564-5465   email: res07i6x@verizon.net

Early influences:

       Around six years of age, John started with the accordion.  “I started listening to Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Sam Hinton, and Browne McGee.  These guys would give seminars at the Idyllwild School for the Performing Arts and it was a remarkable time” 

           “As a teenager I was totally into drag racing.”  Very focused. 

          John had a guitar in Viet Nam to keep him sane and his buddies like to listen to his songs and stories.

          “One time, our convoy was bugging out, the guitar was on top of the stuff in the truck and it bounced out when we were attacked.  Another driver saw the guitar by the road and stopped to retrieve it for me, and for us.”  John recalls with a smile. 

Current projects/Discography:

          “In about 1993, I started going around to California State Historical Landmarks and writing songs about them.“Though I’ve attempted to be historically accurate in researched detail with these songs, occasionally, imagination takes over in an attempt to bring these places and events to life.”

          And bring them to life he does.  John’s three CD’s meet the state guidelines for Social Science education requirements. No small feat.

          California State Historical Landmarks – Imperial County  has the CD tucked into a 6X9-inch booklet that provides written descriptions of the landmarks and the words to all the songs.  A nice, compact package with a map.

          Southern California Mines  continues the Landmarks series with 15 songs about mines, which were a prominent part of this area’s history.  He also tells about the Mexican man who discovered gold long before the famous find at Sutter’s Mill that started the Gold Rush.

          There are good history lessons here in a format that’s easy to take in.

          Folk Song Of The Coachella Valley  is this year’s latest offering from this master storyteller.

          He relates local history in songs like Indio Station, La Quinta Hotel, Training Center Boogie, All American Canal, Centerline (yes, the nation’s highway centerlines started right here, folks) and Dr. Carreon, the story of a Mexican lad who was taught that he had opportunity because he spoke two languages; this was in a time of less cultural tolerance.

          I’ve listened to these CD’s many time and I can understand that this historical music should be made available to residents, tourists and school children whenever possible.

          John has received enthusiastic response when performing in front of schoolchildren.  The music is a vehicle combining performing arts (Americana), cultural arts (song writing) and teaching history with storytelling.  Each song is referenced to the State Guidelines for History and Social Science and fits in the curriculum for third and fourth grade.

          What a rich package of history this man has to offer anyone smart enough to listen.