Cyrus Faryar
Encyclopedia
Cyrus Faryar is an American folk musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was active in musical, theatrical, and performance events in high school. After graduating from high school and attending college, he became involved in the entertainment industry, opening the first coffee house in Hawaii
. He later moved to Southern California and became active with several groups. When Dave Guard
left the Kingston Trio
to pursue his interest in early folk music
styles, Guard asked Faryar to join his new group, The Whiskeyhill Singers
. After the Whiskeyhill Singers disbanded Faryar moved to San Diego to perform with other folk musicians. After his San Diego period Faryar returned to Hawaii, where he helped form the Modern Folk Quartet
, and produced two records of his eclectic neo-folk music style. Still living in Hawaii, he continues to perform occasionally with his recognizable and distinctive deep baritone voice.
Dave Guard. He attended Punahou School
, graduating in 1953. He attended the University of Hawaii
in Manoa Valley, but left before obtaining his degree.
in the Broadway
section of the city, a gathering place for local musicians, poets, and writers.
By 1961, Faryar had left Honolulu and established himself in San Diego. Dave Guard then recruited him to join his new group, the Whiskeyhill Singers
, who also included Judy Henske
.
After the Whiskeyhill Singers broke up, Faryar returned to Hawaii, and formed a new singing group, the Modern Folk Quartet
, with Chip Douglas
, Henry Diltz
and Jerry Yester
, which lasted three years before itself disbanding in 1966.
At the Monterey Pop Festival
in June 1967, Faryar led a band dubbed the "Group With No Name," which made an anonymous appearance. The same year, he collaborated with synthesizer virtuoso Paul Beaver
on The Zodiac : Cosmic Sounds
, a pioneering psychedelic LP on Elektra Records
. In 1968 he performed on Cass Elliot
's album Dream a Little Dream
.
He released two solo albums as a singer/songwriter in the early 1970s, but became better known as a producer, particularly for the Firesign Theatre
, and playing sessions for Linda Ronstadt
and others. He has also continued to record and tour with re-formed versions of the Modern Folk Quartet (or Quintet), as well as recording Hawaiian music following his return to live there.
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He later moved to Southern California and became active with several groups. When Dave Guard
Dave Guard
Donald David "Dave" Guard was an American folk singer, songwriter, arranger and recording artist. Along with Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane, he was one of the founding members of The Kingston Trio.Guard was educated in Honolulu, Hawaii, at Punahou School in what was then the pre-statehood U.S....
left the Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds...
to pursue his interest in early folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
styles, Guard asked Faryar to join his new group, The Whiskeyhill Singers
Whiskeyhill Singers
The Whiskeyhill Singers were formed in early 1961 by Dave Guard after he left The Kingston Trio. Guard formed the Singers as an attempt to return to the Trio's earlier roots in folk music. The Singers lasted about six months before disbanding...
. After the Whiskeyhill Singers disbanded Faryar moved to San Diego to perform with other folk musicians. After his San Diego period Faryar returned to Hawaii, where he helped form the Modern Folk Quartet
Modern Folk Quartet
The Modern Folk Quartet recorded two albums of folk revival music in the early 1960s, with an emphasis on group harmonies, and have subsequently re-formed more than once and made further recordings....
, and produced two records of his eclectic neo-folk music style. Still living in Hawaii, he continues to perform occasionally with his recognizable and distinctive deep baritone voice.
Early life, family, and education
Born in Teheran, Persia, present day Iran, on February 26, 1936 to a family of Persian descent, he was a childhood friend of folk singerFolk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
Dave Guard. He attended Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
, graduating in 1953. He attended the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
in Manoa Valley, but left before obtaining his degree.
Professional life and accomplishments
By 1957 Faryar's avant garde interests led him to establish a "beat" style coffee house in Honolulu. Faryar's Greensleeves coffee house was, like the those popularized first by San Francisco's beat generationBeat generation
The Beat Generation refers to a group of American post-WWII writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired...
in the Broadway
Broadway Street (San Francisco)
Broadway is an east-west street in San Francisco that runs from The Embarcadero to the Cow Hollow district. The neon-lined stretch of Broadway through North Beach is the city's red-light district, home to strip clubs and other adult businesses, as well as many nightclubs and bars, and has been...
section of the city, a gathering place for local musicians, poets, and writers.
By 1961, Faryar had left Honolulu and established himself in San Diego. Dave Guard then recruited him to join his new group, the Whiskeyhill Singers
Whiskeyhill Singers
The Whiskeyhill Singers were formed in early 1961 by Dave Guard after he left The Kingston Trio. Guard formed the Singers as an attempt to return to the Trio's earlier roots in folk music. The Singers lasted about six months before disbanding...
, who also included Judy Henske
Judy Henske
Judy Henske is an American singer and songwriter, once known as "the Queen of the Beatniks".-Life and recording career:...
.
After the Whiskeyhill Singers broke up, Faryar returned to Hawaii, and formed a new singing group, the Modern Folk Quartet
Modern Folk Quartet
The Modern Folk Quartet recorded two albums of folk revival music in the early 1960s, with an emphasis on group harmonies, and have subsequently re-formed more than once and made further recordings....
, with Chip Douglas
Chip Douglas
Douglas Farthing Walter Hatlelid, better known as Chip Douglas, is a songwriter, musician , and record producer, whose most famous work was during the 1960s...
, Henry Diltz
Henry Diltz
Henry Stanford Diltz is a folk musician and photographer, who has been active since the 1960s....
and Jerry Yester
Jerry Yester
Jerry Yester is an American folk rock musician, record producer, and arranger.Growing up in Burbank, California, Yester formed a duo with brother Jim Yester, the Yester Brothers, and starting playing folk clubs in Los Angeles in 1960...
, which lasted three years before itself disbanding in 1966.
At the Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California...
in June 1967, Faryar led a band dubbed the "Group With No Name," which made an anonymous appearance. The same year, he collaborated with synthesizer virtuoso Paul Beaver
Paul Beaver
Paul Beaver was a jazz musician and a pioneer in popular electronic music, using the Moog synthesizer.Beaver was the electronic half of a 1965 experimental free-form album for Dunhill Records with studio drummer Hal Blaine called "Psychedelic Percussion"...
on The Zodiac : Cosmic Sounds
The Zodiac : Cosmic Sounds
The Zodiac : Cosmic Sounds was a collaborative concept album on the theme of the signs of the Zodiac...
, a pioneering psychedelic LP on Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
. In 1968 he performed on Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
's album Dream a Little Dream
Dream a Little Dream (Cass Elliot album)
Dream a Little Dream was the first solo album by singer Cass Elliot immediately after the break-up of The Mamas & the Papas. Capitalizing on the success of her first solo song as the album's title, the record was released on October 19, 1968 by Dunhill Records...
.
He released two solo albums as a singer/songwriter in the early 1970s, but became better known as a producer, particularly for the Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre is an American comedy troupe consisting of Phil Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman and Philip Proctor. Their brand of surrealistic humor is best known through their record albums, which acquired a cult following in the late 1960s and early '70s.The troupe began as live radio...
, and playing sessions for Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
and others. He has also continued to record and tour with re-formed versions of the Modern Folk Quartet (or Quintet), as well as recording Hawaiian music following his return to live there.