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Strawberry Alarm Clock veteran Jimmy Pitman has died. The singer-guitarist was a key player and songwriter on the band’s fourth album, “Good Morning Starshine.” He was 72.

Pitman also was known for his work with the North Florida band the Nightcrawlers, famed regionally for the garage-band touchstone “My Little Black Egg.”

The guitarist joined the Strawberry Alarm Clock in 1969, after it had lost several key members. “I engulfed myself in a bit of rock ‘n’ roll fame,” Pitman later said of the experience.

Keyboardist Mark Weitz said he was “very saddened” to hear the news of Pitman’s death. He remembered him as “a good guitarist and lead vocalist. I wrote with Jimmy and we worked well together as writers.”

“Good Morning Starshine” and its singles failed to light up the charts. It proved to be the Strawberry Alarm Clock’s final album for many years. Pitman left in mid-1969, replaced by Paul Marshall (currently of I See Hawks in L.A.). Marshall said upon hearing of the death that he “had the greatest respect and admiration” for Pitman’s singing.

“Jimmy Pitman was a super talent but even more he was a very down-to-earth no bs kinda guy,” said bassist George Bunnell, who had left the band temporarily before Pitman arrived. “He brought with him an arsenal of musicianship, songwriting and the lead vocals the band needed.

“His style fit right in. He had the rock and blues chops that were core to the sensibilities of (group guitarists) Ed King and Lee Freeman. Both musically and vocally. Sadly, now all three are gone.”

Pitman first came to L.A. with the help of Murray Wilson, father of three of the Beach Boys. He brought to town a Southern twang and a love of the blues.

Hanging out on the Sunset Strip in its glory days, Pitman said, “I met and became friends with the likes of Clapton, Morrison, Hendrix, Buddy Miles, the boys from Iron Butterfly and many more.”

In Hollywood, he hooked up with his Florida pals Gregg and Duane Allman, jamming with their short-lived group the Hour Glass.

After SAC, Pitman returned to Florida, mostly keeping a low profile. He never stopped writing songs, though, and in 2007 he started Big Bad Wolf, which played “originals and classics” for the Baby Boomer crowd.

Pitman said his biggest influence growing up was the Ventures. “I learned to play guitar in the record department at Sears,” he said. “I would play their records then go to the guitar area and played what I just listened to.”

Pitman was born Sept. 28, 1946. He died in hospice care Aug. 29, 2019.

The Strawberry Alarm Clock is saddened by the news of our bandmate Ed King’s passing. 

He was a brother, friend and mentor to us all. His musicality amazes us to this day.

Ed King falls into that proverbial category of “most underrated guitarists.” But he did get a fair share of accolades over the years. 

We were fortunate to have reunited with Ed in 2007 for Roger Ebert’s 9th annual Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign, Ill.
 
We all shared a fun week together before closing the festivities with a legendary Strawberry Alarm Clock concert. 

More recently in 2018, we embarked on a project with producer Ken Roberts to remake “Incense and Peppermints” with the original lineup. 

Ed was very gracious in reproducing his iconic guitar parts and solo.
 
We have all kept close over the years either by phone, email or Facebook as well as Gene Gunnels and Mark Weitz making trips to Nashville to visit with Ed and his sweet wife, Sharon.

Our hearts go out to Sharon and the rest of Ed King’s family, his three boys and his brother, and their families. 

From the Strawberry Alarm Clock family:

Present

Gene Gunnels
Mark Stephen Weitz
George Bunnell 
Randy Seol 
Steve Bartek 
Howie Anderson 

Past

Jimmy Pitman 
Paul Marshall 
Lee Freeman, RIP
Greg Munford 
Steve Rabe 
Mike Luciano

> Read more about Ed King and SAC.

Guitarist Ed King, a past member of the Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died. He was 68.

The Strawberry Alarm Clock remembered King “as a brother, friend and mentor to us all.”

“His musicality amazes us to this day,” the band said upon learning of King’s passing.

King died Aug. 22 at his home in Nashville. The guitarist retired in the mid-1990s and had suffered health issues for several decades.

As a young man, King co-wrote the music for the Strawberry Alarm Clock’s biggest hit, “Incense and Peppermints.” For Lynyrd Skynyrd, he co-wrote the Southern rock anthem “Home Sweet Alabama.”

“Ed was our brother, and a great songwriter and guitar player,” said fellow Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington. “I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in Rock and Roll Heaven.” King and Rossington were the surviving members of the classic lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Other Strawberry Alarm Clock songs for which King received writing credits included “Tomorrow,” “Sit With the Guru,” “The Black Butter Trilogy,” “Pretty Song From Psych-Out” and “Soft Skies, No Lies.” (King wrote with keyboardist Mark Weitz and guitarist Lee Freeman.)

King remained close with other members of the veteran California rock band. This year, the group worked on a remake of the song “Incense and Peppermints” featuring the group’s original lineup. “Ed was very gracious in reproducing his iconic guitar parts and solo,” the band said.

King also reunited with the Strawberry Alarm Clock in 2007 for an appearance at Roger Ebert’s film festival.

As a teenager, King was a founding member of Thee Sixpence, the high school group that transformed itself into the Strawberry Alarm Clock. King stayed with the band until 1972, when he took a flyer and joined a Southern rock band that had opened for the Strawberry Alarm Clock on a regional tour. That band was Lynyrd Skynyrd, which was heading into the studio to record its first album with producer Al Kooper.

King started out playing bass and then switched to guitar. King stayed with Skynyrd for three classic albums. He left before the fatal plane crash that claimed the life of Ronnie Van Zant and other two other members of the band.

Other Lynyrd Skynyrd songs with King’s writing credits included “Saturday Night Special,” “Workin’ for MCA,” “Railroad Song” and “Whiskey Rock-a-Roller.”

In 1987, King joined the Lynyrd Skynyrd survivors reunion tour and played with the band until health problems forced him out in 1996.

In 2006, King entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

King’s death was announced by his family on Facebook. “We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career,” they said.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon, three sons and a brother.