Art Fein, a prominent figure in the vibrant Los Angeles music scene, who gained immense popularity as the host of Art Fein’s Poker Party, a captivating public access television show centered on music, passed away on July 30. Fein lost his life due to heart failure while recovering from surgery related to a broken hip. He was 79 years old, leaving behind a legacy that profoundly impacted the music community.
Launching in 1984 under the original title Lil Art’s Poker Party, Art Fein’s Poker Party captivated audiences for 24 years, featuring an array of illustrious guests including Brian Wilson, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Love with Arthur Lee, Dwight Yoakam, Spirit, Dion, Joe Strummer, Etta James, and renowned session musician Carol Kaye, a key member of the legendary Wrecking Crew. This show not only provided entertainment but also served as a launchpad for various artists.
Each episode of the show, lasting 30 minutes, seamlessly blended engaging conversation with live performances. A treasure trove of these episodes can be explored in the archives available on Fein’s YouTube channel, which offers a glimpse into the rich musical landscape of the time.
“Devastated to learn of Art Fein’s passing, a remarkable producer, manager, and music historian, who truly embodied the spirit of public access TV akin to Ed Sullivan,” expressed bass player Toni Pambianco on social media platform X. “His presence will be profoundly missed in the music world.”
Fein had a special affinity for nurturing roots music artists, showcasing talents such as Clifton Chenier, the zydeco star, Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams, and Ray Campi & the Rockabilly Rebels. His efforts significantly contributed to the recognition of this genre long before the Recording Academy introduced dedicated categories, including Best Regional Roots Music Album in 2012, Best American Roots Song in 2014, and Best American Roots Performance in 2015.
“He truly excelled in what he did,” said Rosie Flores in a poignant tribute to Fein, as noted by writer Randy Lewis. “We were able to get airtime on television, even though many of us weren’t well-known – we were cool, and he provided us with a platform that was rare and invaluable. Who else was doing that? Nobody.”
Fein astutely seized upon a 1984 FCC policy that mandated cities to offer a public-access channel whenever they entered into a franchise agreement with a cable company. While the show was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, where Fein relocated in 1971 after completing his education, it also aired on local-access channels in Austin, Texas, a hub for roots music, and occasionally in New York City and Seattle. It was during a taping at Century Cable in Santa Monica, California, that Fein met his wife, Jennifer, who was working there at the time.
The show became a perfect platform for Fein, allowing him to express his deep passion for music and showcase his vibrant personality, something that traditional 9-to-5 jobs had never afforded him. In the 1970s, Fein had worked in promotion and publicity for three major record companies – Capitol, Elektra/Asylum, and Casablanca – but found himself unable to remain in any position for more than a year. He also served as the music editor for Variety for about a year, which turned out to be another poor fit for his unique talents and creative spirit.
However, it was on this show that Fein truly blossomed. In 1992, eight years and 400 episodes into his groundbreaking run, The Los Angeles Times featured a significant article on Fein and his show. The author, Bob Baker, pointed out that prior to the show, Fein had been navigating an unstable career in the margins of rock music, working as a music consultant for films and television, writing freelance articles, composing album liner notes, and even managing the band The Blasters for a couple of years.
“If this show serves as a springboard, I’ll be incredibly pleased,” Fein shared with Baker. “But if it doesn’t, I’m thoroughly enjoying myself doing exactly what I want. I’ve always had an artistic temperament, but before launching this show, I lacked an outlet. I couldn’t sing, and writing a novel didn’t appeal to me. But this is something that makes me feel fulfilled. I feel like a knight charging into battle every time I leave my house, ready to make a significant statement.”
Fein was a dynamo, thriving on making things happen regardless of whether he received payment for his contributions. He played The Blasters’ “Marie Marie” to Shakin’ Stevens, who subsequently recorded it and achieved a top 20 hit on the Official U.K. Singles Chart in 1980. He organized annual events such as the popular Elvis Birthday Bash, celebrated on or around the King’s birthday each year since 1978, and hosted a New Year’s Eve Bash for six consecutive years from 1978 to 1984.
Arthur David Fein was born on June 17, 1946, and was adopted at birth by Sam and Lillian Fein. His passion for music ignited at the tender age of 10, coinciding with the explosive rise of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, and other iconic figures of rock and roll.
In his 2022 memoir, Rock’s in My Head, Fein recounted the transformative moment when he accidentally saw Presley on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. “My life was altered in an instant,” he reflected. “Who was this side-burned Pied Piper from outer space with slick black hair like Superman, and just as handsome? … What was this music? This was rock & roll!”
Fein grew to admire Jerry Lee Lewis even more. “If Elvis was God, Jerry Lee Lewis was the Prince of Darkness,” he wrote passionately.
Fein graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder at the end of the 1960s with a degree in journalism. He relocated to California in 1971, initially residing just south of Santa Cruz for a couple of years before moving to Los Angeles in 1973. His career began with a short stint at Capitol Records in the newly established college promotion department, which was unfortunately dissolved less than a year later.
Fein engaged in freelance writing for music articles for a period before securing a position as music editor at Variety. However, this role didn’t last long, nor did the following jobs in publicity at Elektra/Asylum and Casablanca. It became clear that traditional 9-to-5 jobs were not well-suited for his dynamic personality.
Fein flourished as an independent professional. He established himself as an artist manager, representing talents such as Ray Campi & the Rockabilly Rebels, The Blasters, The Cramps, and The Heaters. In 1983, he produced the album (Art Fein Presents) The Best of L.A. Rockabilly. He also served as a music consultant for films and television, contributing to projects like Roadhouse 66 (1984), Tour of Duty (1987), and Blood Diner (1987).
Fein also made his mark as a successful author, penning three notable books: The L.A. Musical History Tour: A Guide to the Rock and Roll Landmarks of Los Angeles (Faber & Faber, 1991; second edition published by 2.13.61 in 1998), The Greatest Rock & Roll Stories: The Most Outrageous, Magical and Scandalous Events in the History of Rock & Roll (Rhino/GPG, 1997), and his memoir, Rock’s in My Head (Trouser Press Books, 2022).
In The L.A. Musical History Tour, Fein guided readers to iconic rock sites in Los Angeles, including the Foster’s Freeze in Hawthorne, where The Beach Boys frequented, the Morrison Hotel, where The Doors filmed their iconic album cover, and the location of the famed “Rock & Roll Denny’s.”
He also maintained a blog titled Another Fein Mess, with entries from 1998 to 2017 archived on Fein’s website, offering readers insights and anecdotes from his extensive career.
Fein had a long and intricate friendship with the legendary Phil Spector. Fein idolized the iconic producer known for creating the Wall of Sound. Upon arriving in Los Angeles in 1973, his first stop was the now-closed Gold Star Recording Studios in Hollywood, where Spector recorded numerous sessions with acts like The Crystals and The Righteous Brothers. Over time, Fein brought many friends, including Gene Sculatti, Bob Merlis, Dick Blackburn, and Kristine McKenna, to visit Spector at his home.
Even after Spector was implicated in the tragic death of actress Lana Clarkson at his home in 2003, Fein remained loyal. He continued to reach out despite Spector’s conviction for second-degree murder in 2009, which resulted in a 19 years to life prison sentence. Eventually, Fein realized that his unwavering loyalty had perhaps become excessive.
“I wrote to him 15 times while he was incarcerated and never received a response,” Fein shared in his memoir. “By the time he passed away on January 16, 2021, at the age of 81, I had completed my period of mourning.”
Journalist Chris Morris, a former writer and editor for Billboard, succinctly captured Fein’s diverse talents in a review of his memoir: “Art has served rock & roll as a writer, publicist, label executive, manager, promoter, TV host, social connector, and an all-around good person. He has interacted with the famous, infamous, and legendary figures in music while living to share those incredible stories.”
Fein is survived by his loving wife, Jennifer, and their daughter, Jessie.
