Creators
This isn’t just where music history lives. It’s where music keeps evolving.
From garage bands of the 1960s to current musical and technological groundbreakers, San Jose and Silicon Valley are rich in melodic history. This vibrant region serves as home to the artists crafting today’s most iconic video game soundtracks, skate punk, underground scenes, and DIY venues that foster creativity and innovation.
Moreover, it is a growing center for mariachi and LatinX musical expression, reflecting the diverse cultural tapestry of the area. Adding to this rich musical landscape, San Jose is also home to tech firms — including some of the world’s largest companies — that are shaping how we create, record, and hear music. We’re proud to celebrate our historical roots as well as embrace new genres and technologies as they continually evolve.
Who Knew?
The Grateful Dead's first show
In 1965, the Grateful Dead performed the group’s first show in a downtown house located near San Jose State University, on the site of San Jose’s current City Hall — the house has since been moved to nearby St. John Street a few blocks away
The Doobie Brothers & Smash Mouth's early days
In 1965, the Grateful Dead performed the group’s first show in a downtown house located near San Jose State University, on the site of San Jose’s current City Hall — the house has since been moved to nearby St. John Street a few blocks away
The Beatles' first visit to the Bay Area
San Jose resident Paul Catalana promoted the Beatles’ first two concerts in the Bay Area following their 1964 American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show
Connected to the roots of legends
Other bands with strong connections to San Jose and the Valley include Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Trapt, and Los Tigres del Norte
The Creators
Paul Catalana
Savvy enough to book red-hot young pop juggernauts like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits and the Dave Clark 5 during the 1964-65 height of the British Invasion, Paul Catalana was the man calling all the shots from his San…
Read More
Mikel Hunter Herrington
As Captain Mikey, from 1966 -1969 he held crazy contests and snuck guests into the nighttime studio, making Top 40 KLIV-AM (1590) the first San Jose station to beat its San Francisco competitors.
Read More