King Sonny Zorro - King of Venice Beach

KING OF VENICE - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - When we met King Sonny Zorro we knew that he was a rare "jewel in the sand". We invited him to record a live album in our 8-track studio just as if he was on the beach at Venice, Los Angeles. Hence the title: "Venice Beach Tapes Vol 1 Millennium". He showed up with his buddy "Harmonica Dave" and they proceeded to dive into a live jam. We were so pleased with the results that we released it on our label: Higher Cause. We had CDs made up and he would sell or trade them for food on the boardwalk in Venice. He had many friends who loved him dearly. Here are some samples from his CD: an old blues favorite St James Infirmary and an original, Goddess. If you like what you hear go here for mp3 downloads from his "Millennium" CD album or visit our catalog

Born Andrew Jackson Duffield, June 9, 1942 in Jonesborough, TN. Sonny was raised in Santa Rosa, CA from 5 years old, descended from hill billy stock with country music roots. He learned to play the saxophone at age 12, but his family wanted him to go into sports as he was such a great footballer. During his senior year in high school he was, unfortunately, in a very serious car accident which put him in hospital for a whole year and left him with a limp. It changed the course of his life. As he could no longer play sports he turned to his music and art for solace. He became a great musician, songwriter and artist. He will live forever in our hearts.

Legend has it that King Sonny first saw Jimi Hendrix play with the Isley Brothers on the Johnny Otis Show in 1964. One night while performing at a popular 60s cafe in San Francisco King Sonny wrote "Purple Haze" and dedicated it to Hendrix. Janis Joplin told him to write it down on a napkin and she gave it to Jimi. The rest is history.....

He played saxophone for many years with Roland Kirk, Richard Grup-Holmes, Merl Saunders and other well known musicians of that era. He was a student of Benny Harris in Venice Beach (the originator of "Beep Bop" jazz) during the early 70s. Among the strongest musical influences in his life have been Billie Holliday, Miles Davis, Roland Kirk, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin and Benny Harris.

Sonny moved onto Venice Beach in 1981 where he became the 'King of Venice' living his homeless existence in the spirit of humility. He felt he must live true to his art, music and beliefs and didn't want anything to get in the way. He could have collected DSSI but considered it "intrusive", preferring to be independent. This is the only way, he said, that he could learn what he needed - something to do with the renowned "Garbage Can" school of artists !

Update: King Sonny Zorro passed away in April, 2003 after being hounded off the beach by the LAPD for several years. Sonny was finally picked up by paramedics, dying in the back streets of Venice in March, 2003. He ended his days in Marina Del Rey hospital where the doctors diagnosed him with a fatal brain tumour (in fact, they found six deadly tumours throughout his body) and gave him only a few weeks to live. Right up until the end Sonny was a brave and fearless soldier - he never once thought of his own misery but was always concerned about the welfare of others. Sonny and his faithful dog, Pretty Boy, will be sorely missed on the streets of Venice where he was an icon of the 60s era and where he spent so many of his creative years painting, playing guitar and singing - he is gone but not forgotten - WE LOVE YOU, SONNY, MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

King Sonny Zorro Memorial Fund