Cold Blood, The Early Years !

One of my favorite Bay Area bands is Cold Blood. They were formed in the late nineteen sixties by Larry Fields, but the band Cold Blood was, and still is, defined by their lead singer, one of the most unappreciated musicians of all time, Lydia Pense, who has been stealing the show for over fifty years. In my opinion three Diva’s emerged out of the Bay Area during the 1960’s that I would associate with that time period. Only one was born in the city proper of San Francisco, Lydia Pense. And just in case there is any confusion, Grace Slick born Highland Park, Illinois and Janis Joplin born Port Arthur, Texas. But unfortunately, Pense’s four-foot eleven frame has long been overshadowed by the two rock divas and she has especially been compared to Big Brother and the Holding Company’s Janis Joplin. There is no denying Janis Joplin’s impact in her short career, and no slighting her induction to The Hall of Fame. But in my opinion, based on her skill, stage presence and longevity, Lydia Pense also deserves induction in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hell, I think the whole band should be in, they were one of the first Rhythm and Blues bands to incorporate a horn section along with a female lead singer during that time period. Lydia Pense was living in Redwood City. She and bassist Rod Ellicott had been in a Peninsula Band called The Generation, that band evolved into Cold Blood. When Cold Blood came out in the late sixties, it was around the same time as other brass heavy bands like Blood Sweat and Tears, The Chicago Transit Authority and Tower of Power, and they unfortunately became lost in the mix. Their first few albums featured Larry Fields on lead guitar, he was replaced by Michael Sasaki. Bass player Rod Ellicott has never received his due as one of the Bay Area’s best! Drummer’s Sandy McKee and Gaylord Birch, and arranger keyboardist Raul Matute were topnotch. And of course, their horn section of Jerry Jonutz, Danny Hull, David Padrón and Larry Jonutz with contributions from former Tower of Power members Mic Gillette and Skip Mesquite were World Class. Cold Blood’s third album, First Taste of Sin, was produced by none other than the brilliant Donny Hathaway. To be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an artist must meet the following criteria, be nominated by a committee, receive votes from over 1,000 "rock experts", have a significant musical influence on other artists, have a lengthy and impactful career, show innovation and superiority in style and technique. She has got three out of five, and the rest is just politics. The Fillmore, Winterland, Golden Gate Park, she’s played everything from skating rinks to The Washington Monument. She has been hiding in plain sight long enough! Lydia Pense missed out on the national exposure that Joplin received at the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival. That feature film and Joplin’s performance propelled her to national prominence. And if not for a cruel twist of fate explained by Cold Blood original bass player Rod Ellicott in my exclusive interview, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood might already be in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Janis Joplin passed over fifty years ago, and may she rest in everlasting peace, Grace Slick retired in 1990 and entered Rock’s Hall in 1996 along with her flight crew The Jefferson Airplane. And who is the last women standing? Long after her aforementioned contemporaries have stopped performing, Lydia Pense is still belting it out around the Bay Area club circuit. Now that is what I call a Lifetime Achievement! Cold Blood disbanded in the late 1970s for various reasons but mainly because Lydia Pense wanted to take some time to raise her only child, daughter Danielle. The group reformed in 1988 and still perform around the Bay Area today. Here is Cold Blood, The Early Years. Music by Cold Blood. March is National Women’s History Month. Please join me in righting a long standing wrong in nominating one of our own, Lydia Pense, for induction to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at Vote.rockhall.com. This video is a non-profit informative and commemorative labor of love. Video meets all fair use guidelines.