The curious life and tragic death of Randy California

On January 2nd, 2011 it will be 14 years since Randy Craig Wolfe drowned in the ocean off the coast of Molokai, Hawaii while successfully preventing his son from suffering the same fate. He managed to push him towards the shore in the fierce undercurrent, but had no energy left to save himself.

Wolfe, better known as Randy California, was a guitarist and singer for the rock group Spirit. Founded in 1967, he was one of the group’s original members and was also the band’s principal songwriter, penning the band’s two biggest hits, “I Got A Line On You”, and “Nature’s Way”.

The band’s musical output is diverse, one that defies categorization. Within the grooves of their astounding first four albums are elements of jazz, folk, power pop and even the roots of progressive and jazz/rock fusion. “The 12 Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus” , arguably their greatest work, is a bona fide masterpiece that belongs in the record collections of all serious listeners.

A guitar genius at the tender age of 15, Randy met Jimi Hendrix at Manny’s Guitar Shop in New York City during the summer of 1966. He had migrated there from California with his stepfather Ed Cassidy who together were performing at several small jazz clubs in the area.

After hearing him play, Hendrix got Randy to join his band, which were then known as “Jimmy James and the Blue Flames”. There was another guitarist from Texas in the band named Randy, so Hendrix started referring to them separately as “Randy California” and “Randy Texas” to avoid confusion.

Upon being “discovered” by Animals bassist Chas Chandler, it was decided that Hendrix would go to England with his new manager with the intention of forming a band. Jimi wanted Randy California in the group that was to become the Experience, but Randy’s parents would not allow it, since he was only 15 and had still not finished high school.

Returning home with a new nickname, Randy, along with his stepfather would form “Spirit”. The success of their second album “The Family That Plays Together” found them touring the United States in 1968. Opening for them on several dates was a new band from England called Led Zeppelin. It was most likely here that Jimmy Page first heard Randy’s song “Taurus” which features a guitar part that is strikingly similar to a Led Zeppelin song that would be recorded a few years later, known as “Stairway To Heaven”.

Some bad management decisions (such as not playing the Woodstock festival) combined with the death of his good friend Hendrix, a disillusioned and depressed Randy California left Spirit in 1969. He would record and perform under a few different band configurations before re-acquiring the legal rights to use the name “Spirit” in 1974.
While he would never approach the quality of those early records, Randy California continued to write, record and perform under the “Spirit” banner until that fateful day in 1997, where he died while saving the life of his own son.

Click below to hear "Mr. Skin" by Spirit