Josh Schwartz, guitarist and songwriter, dead at 45
Kevin Bronson on
13
Josh Schwartz, the beloved L.A. singer-guitarist, has died after a long battle with ALS. He was 45.
He was a force in L.A. bands such as Further, Beachwood Sparks, the Summer Hits and the Tyde and toured with the likes of John Cale and Charlatans UK. In 2010, he released a solo album as Painted Hills.
The music community rallied in support of the Orange County native at a benefit show in 2014 but friends reported his condition had deteriorated in recent weeks.
“Josh was a brother, a naturally gifted musician/songwriter/producer,” said Brent Rademaker of Further, Beachwood Sparks and now GospelbeacH. “It was as a guitarist that he really shined (and was far too underrated), but his real gift was as a friend … if you were Josh’s friend you had a real friend for life. California GOLD!”
Among the many tributes on social media in the past 24 hours, there was this from drummer-songwriter-impresario Ric Menck, who released the Painted Hills album on his Bird Song Recordings imprint: “He flowed like a river, and he took the time to appreciate things, the ocean, animals, nature, his friends and most of all, music. I shall forever treasure the ‘meetings’ we had to discuss the release of the Painted Hills album on my label. To be honest, I couldn’t believe he was letting me do it. To my mind it’s one of the greatest albums of his generation. It sums up the entire ‘California psychedelic canyon rock’ thing better than any other album. Every fucking note is perfect, every song a masterpiece. …
“I loved him. Everyone loved him. He was a fucking rock & roll star.”
||| Stream: Painted Hills’ “Kaleidoscope Eyes”
Josh is a native to Sierra Madre CA – in Los Angeles County… the rest of the article is true.
Thank you, Gwendolyn. I was told he was born in Tustin, hence that reference.
Hi I’m Josh’s mom. He IS from Orange County lived in Newport Beach and was born and lived in Santa Ana for a short time before moving and staying put in Sierra Madre when he was 3. He also opened with Tim Burgess for the Rolling Stones UK tour plus was one of John C. Riley’s Hardwalkers which toured the US. He was a sought after studio musician, wrote and played music for movies TV and TV commercials plus appeared on numerous artists albums and live appearances. He was in a late night talk show band, on and on the list goes. Locally a much loved band early on which has a cult following today is Winter Kills which he and Tom Sanford started when they were 12 and 13.The music still holds up today and Josh could shred on the guitar at that age. The band quickly became headliners on the strip all through their high school years. His story goes on and on but here’s the correct info!
ALSO … forgot about the Hubcaps which was his famous local cover band with Keith and Tom who played from SF to the our southern CA desert. A big hit always. They tore it up and would rock Sierra Madre and everywhere they played.
FAIRECHILD album!. Some of the greatest songs on that album with Elisa Randazzo.
How about the band Sweet … with Tom and Pokey? Jim and I send love to you, dear Denise.. Pat
Sweet Syanide. With Chris Jurebie. One of the first times I played in public was opening for them.
Hi Denise!
I was about to set the record straight too, but saw that my auntie (and dear Gwendolyn) beat me to it. Yes, this article needs to be rewritten with more accurate facts. 😉 But thank you nonetheless…my cousin was the best all around. He mad guitar skills left most people in awe.
He is one of my favorite songwriters. Northern Lights were also fantastic. <3
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I still see Josh in my dreams and thing of him often. The kindest person I have have ever met, I didn’t know what to do with all that love. Glad we made amends and I left that door open. I know he is here with us, in heart, song, and spirt. His energy is and will always be, We made promises… so somewhere in Italy.