Rolling Stone magazine named him essential. His family lost their home.
His name was nearly forgotten. This is his story.
His name was nearly forgotten. This is his story.
'I built this tribute website because my father died before the world understood what he had created.
I will not let his name disappear.' — Cheryl Lynne Pickens Rubbo
I will not let his name disappear.' — Cheryl Lynne Pickens Rubbo
Jean Paul (J.P.) Pickens (May 6, 1937 – July 6, 1973), was a leading force in the early North Beach, San Francisco, music scene, circa 1963, along with David Meltzer and James Gurley, defining the psychedelic rock genre. J.P. played regularly at the Coffee Gallery on Grant Street in the early sixties, performing with Meltzer, Gurley, Peter Albin and Janis Joplin (who later formed Big Brother and the Holding Company) and many others. See David Meltzer's post.
J.P. Pickens, Artist Extraordinaire
"Walking out across the fields;
Winds blowing through the grey day;
Clouds heavy, waiting for a chance to rain; Dawn; Mist off the canal, waters now still. Will I find you there down among the reeds? Are you waiting for me there in the still waters? Are you glad to see me? Sit down here beside me. Let’s just listen to the music of the morning, For soon we must be on our way." -October, 1962 
J.P. and Mary Ann are at peace together, at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills.
Topanga Canyon, CA, making music with friends, 1961
JP and Family, 1960
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The Coffee Gallery, in San Francisco's North Beach, circa 1963
In 2007, David and Tina Meltzer's 'The Serpent Power' was named number 28 of 40 Essential Albums of 1967 by Rolling Stone Magazine in a special Summer of Love issue (honoring the 40th anniversary of the founding of the magazine) with a special mention of the song J.P. plays on, "Endless Tunnel."
Click here to read Cheryl Lynne's blog
Read about the miracles and gifts J.P. continues to give his daughters! " J.P. was blessed with the inspiration, creativity and musical chops to seize conventional banjo music, infuse it with new traditions and influences and transform it into new musical forms that still exist today among his musical heirs, which include Bela Fleck, Mumford and Sons, and many more...." Mary Ann Pickens - May 16, 1937 - July 11, 2014
Mary Ann, J.P.'s beloved wife, died on July 11, 2014, after a short, but intense, battle with lung cancer.
Mary Ann passed peacefully at home in the loving arms of her treasured daughters, KayAnne Pickens Solem and Cheryl Lynne Pickens Rubbo. Click here to read more. 
Hand-built banjo, by J.P. Pickens, made in 1963
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