Sojourn to Musicians Final Mecca

The warm summer breeze soon begin to blow, the concert season is upon us, music lovers around the world are making plans to enjoy the seasons musicians on tour. Perhaps you'll find your self basking in the sun of Los Angeles. For jazz lovers an afternoon outing to the small garden oasis in Westwood can bring you close to many of the great musicians, composers and famous film stars, this their final resting place.

Westwood Village, which follows down from hills of the beautiful campus of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), has a great ambiance and great restaurants, great jazz. Wilshire Boulevard as it winds through the towering buildings, one feels like you're in the Grand Canyon, taking cross town travelers from Santa Monica to the Miracle Mile.

Hidden away just a block from this intersection is perhaps the mecca of departed talent, seemingly a musical interlude, born tacit, the graves of the stars, Pierce Bros Westwood Village Memorial Park. Pierce Brothers is tucked away on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, and its almost impossible to find without specific directions. It can't be reached from either the north, south or east sides - the only entrance is on the west side, from Glendon Avenue.

Open to the public, on any afternoon you'll find people searching the grassy knoll looking for names in the lawn, one smaller than a football field. Just the left of Donna Reed you'll find Sammy Cahn, who wrote the lyrics to such songs as “Love and Marriage", “High Hopes" and “It's Magic." A large maker for the resting place of Mel Torme, just in front of the crypt of author Truman Capote.

Famed drummer Buddy Rich is found in the Sanctuary of Tranquillity, just around the outside wall is the most famous in residence, Marilyn Monroe. The crypt space next to hers is reserved for Playboy Hugh Hefner. Just above is Jay Livingston composer of the theme from “Bonanza", “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)," “Mona Liza" and “Buttons and Bows."

Band leaders are plentiful in Westwood Park, Ray Conniff, Stan Kenton and Les Brown the man of renown. Peggy Lee is found in the Rose Graden, her ashes in the bench scrolled with her name and just beyond you'll find Fanny Brice. Janice Joplin was cremated at Price Brothers was well as singer- dancer Gene Kelly. In unmarked graves but can be found are those of Frank Zappa and Roy Orbison, and along the grass you'll see the graves of the Beach Boy Carl Wilson next to Minnie Riperton.

Wilson's father in law , Dean Martin is just beyond in the mausoleum Sanctuary of Love, always found with a row of coins along his head maker. There also find a close friend of George Gershwin, Oscar Levant, talented pianist, actor was in Rhapsody in Blue and American in Paris. Oscar-winning composer Harry Warren whose songs included “Jeepers Creepers," “Chattanooga Choo Choo," “The More I See You," “I Only Have Eyes For You," “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe," “The Lullaby of Broadway" and “That's Amore", is among the roster.

The film actors, producers and directors are numerous but include Natalie Wood, Dorothy Stratten , Dominique Dunne , Carroll O'Connor, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Don Knotts, Eddie Albert, George C. Scott, Burt Lancaster, Eve Arden, Eva Gabor, Cornel Wilde, John Cassavetes, Billy Wilder and Rodney Dangerfield.

A sojurn of tribute in memorance to their last refrain. As Amadeus would have written:
D.C. al Coda, D.C al Fine

For directions and further information:
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary
1218 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 474-1579