The LA AGO Podcast

Remember that moment when you were first captivated by an organ? When the sounds and sensations drew you in and piqued your curiosity? When you saw an organ console up close for the first time and was overwhelmed by its complexity? When you just knew you wanted to learn how to play one? We all have memories like this and stories to tell about them. In each episode of The LA AGO Podcast, host Thompson Howell speaks with a different member of the Los Angeles Chapter, and occasional special guests, about their own love affair with the organ and how that passion informs their particular involvement with the organ world today. It's not just about what you've done; it's about why you do what you do. Whether you’re a church musician, a concert organist, a teacher, an organ builder or technician, a composer who writes for the organ or simply a fan of the organ and its music, you’ll enjoy hearing the stories of people who are passionate about the organ at every level.

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The LA AGO Podcast

Episode 7 (John West)

February 07, 2021 • Host: Thompson Howell • Season 2 • Episode 4

It's lucky Episode #7...our longest conversation with a guest to date - and boy, do we cover a lot of ground!

February is Black History Month and our guest this time is the inimitable John West, Music/Choral Director & Organist at Hollywood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles. Host Thompson Howell refers to John as a "multi-talented poly-hyphenate" due to the breadth and variety of John's career as an organist, composer, teacher, and studio session singer for Film and TV.

John shares his thoughts on the past year and how he focuses most on the things within his control. He also talks about his organ origin story while growing up in Oakland and his time studying with Richard Purvis at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco; playing the Poulenc organ concerto in high school; why being turned down by Juilliard turned out to be a good thing; how he learned to embrace different musical styles and genres and why they can (and have to) all exist together; why he specifically chose the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston to pursue his Master's Degree; what he learned as a songwriter and producer working at the legendary Motown Records in Los Angeles; his experience as a professional black musician working in both the classical and popular music fields; meeting Diana Ross; appearing on the organ program Pipedreams; how he's handled the music program at HUMC during the pandemic; the recent rebuilding and expansion of the 1929 Casavant organ there; and much more!

Listen at LAAGO.org...or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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