Danny Scher
LP chats with a long time music promoter, Danny Scher.
The summer of 1968 looked like the summer of 2020. Americans were in the streets protesting racism, among other things. And a high school student in Palo Alto, Calif., got in on the action by enlisting the help of a jazz legend. Danny Scher came up with the idea to book Thelonious Monk to play his school's auditorium and now, a professional recording of this concert will be released publicly for the first time on July 31. The album is called Palo Alto and comes out on Impulse! Recordings in all formats.
In this episode, Danny shares the complete story about how a sixteen-year-old boy got into booking concerts while he was in high school. It's a human story where Danny was writing letters, calling the talent directly, starting a mail-order ticketing business, hanging flyers around town and hustling jazz greats at their hotels in San Francisco.
Danny Scher is a renowned Bay Area concert promoter who has made significant contributions to the music industry over his career. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Scher developed a passion for music at a young age.
One of Scher's most notable achievements early in his career was booking the legendary jazz musician Thelonious Monk to perform at his high school in Palo Alto, California in 1968 when Scher was just 16 years old. This historic concert was recorded and later released as a live album in 2020, titled "Palo Alto" on Impulse! Records.
Scher went on to work with the prominent concert promotion company Bill Graham Presents for twenty-four years. During his tenure there, he held various positions including booking, sponsorships, and amphitheatre development.
One of his most significant accomplishments at Bill Graham Presents was developing the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Under Scher's leadership, Shoreline became the most successful amphitheatre in the country.
Scher also created and produced the New Orleans by the Bay festival, which became the largest New Orleans food and music festival outside of New Orleans itself. The festival showcased the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans and featured renowned musicians and chefs.
Throughout his career, Scher demonstrated a knack for securing sponsorships with major national companies. He conceived and procured deals with brands such as Pepsi, Miller, Casio, and the Gap, bringing in significant revenue and elevating the profile of the events he worked on.
After his time at Bill Graham Presents, Scher went on to found his own company, Danny Scher Presents, where he continues to promote concerts and events in the Bay Area and beyond. His many years of experience and deep industry connections have made him a sought-after promoter and consultant.
Danny Scher
Bay Area Concert Promoter
Danny worked for twenty-four years with Bill Graham Presents in many capacities, including booking, sponsorships and amphitheatre development. His accomplishments include developing Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, the most successful amphitheatre in the country; creating and producing New Orleans by the Bay, the largest New Orleans food and music festival outside of New Orleans; and conceiving and procuring sponsorships with major national companies including Pepsi, Miller, Casio and the Gap.
Greatest Hits
Wondering where to start or where to go next? Check out some of our most-listened-to episodes.
Grahame Lesh
Based in the musical hotbed of Marin County, California, Grahame Lesh is a guitar player and singer-songwriter for Midnight North, Phil Lesh & Friends, & the Terrapin Family Band. A mainstay in the scene centered around Terra...
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley Mason, CBE (born 27 January 1944) is an English drummer and founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. He is the only member to feature on every Pink Floyd album, and the only constant member s...
Steve Kimock
Steve Kimock talking about the new Zero reissue of “Naught Again” and finding the Grateful Dead scene
John Barry on Levon Helm
Writer John Barry joins us on the podcast to talk his new book, "Levon Helm: Rock, Roll & Ramble—The Inside Story of the Man, the Music and the Midnight Ramble." Ringo wrote the foreword, and Roger Waters, Graham Nash and …
Michael Kuelker on The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Today, the spotlight shines on author and educator Michael Kuelker, here to talk about his recent book, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils On Record: A Narrative Discography . Michae is a teacher, writer, and reggae radio DJ in St...
Dominic Miller
The ECM Records artist and Sting's longtime guitarist takes a seat in the Spotlight.
Diana Pasulka: a religious study of UFOs and nonhuman intelligences
With her books Encounters and American Cosmic, religious studies professor Diana Pasulka explores the modern edges of belief.
That Petrol Emotion
Today, the spotlight shines on the wildly influential post-punk group, That Petrol Emotion. Guitarist and songwriter Raymond Gorman and lead singer Steve Mack joined Spotlight On host Lawrence Peryer to mark the release of th...
David Rodriguez talks community, culture, and his work with NJPAC
With the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, David creates musical milestones in Newark, NJ, and beyond.
Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope
The trumpet virtuoso talks about his father's inspiration, the Middle East's influence on symphonic music, how Bach and Mozart were punks, and the ideas behind his album Capacity To Love.
Hainbach: crafting soundscapes from forgotten relics
Experimental musician, YouTube personality, and excavator of rare, electronic sound-making artifacts — Hainbach delivers a fascinating look into his prolific musical activities.
David J: unearthing tracks from the attic
The Bauhaus and Love and Rockets bassist chats with guest host Michael Donaldson about lighting candles, the magic(k) muse, touring with Jane's Addiction, and the album collecting his early demos, Tracks From The Attic.
Andy McCluskey: kicking down fascist art with OMD
The Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark frontman chats about art movements, political treachery, Kraftwerk's impact, and the brilliant album Bauhaus Staircase.