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.