westcoast | How The West Was Smooth

How The West Was Smooth – the 2017 Presentation

Posted on March 2 by The WestCoast Breeze

On November 13th, 2017, I presented a PowerPoint on the history of West Coast music called How The West Was Smooth. This was part of a Music Matters Appreciation Lecture Series sponsored by 103.3 Asheville FM. The amazing poster above was designed by an Asheville FM volunteer named Pia.

The video was initially posted on YouTube but has been offline for a while. So I uploaded it myself. You can access it via the link below:

How The West Was Smooth Presentation

Here is the press release which promoted the presentation:

Music Matters is a series of bimonthly appreciation lectures given by Asheville FM DJs, volunteers, and affiliates. Join us for the next presentation in this series, “How the West Was Smooth: The History of West Coast Music.” The West Coast sound is one of the most appreciated genres of music worldwide today. Artists such as Toto, Boz Scaggs, Fleetwood Mac, Ambrosia, Pablo Cruise, Bill LaBounty, and Steely Dan have influenced a new generation of NuCoast bands worldwide from Scandinavia, France, England, New Zealand, Brazil, and many other countries. From 6 – 8pm on Monday, November 13th, Erik Mattox, host of Asheville FM’s The WestCoast Breeze, will give you the lowdown on how the 60s folk and country rock scene in the Canyon transitioned into the smooth sounds of West Coast music of the late 70s and early 80s.

Takin’ the Smooth To The Streets

Posted on September 2, 2021 by The WestCoast Breeze

Check out this clip of hip hop artists sampling WestCoast music from the 1980s to today in a piece we call When Westcoast Met Hip Hop.

West Coast Classics from the 70s & 80s, Part 2

Posted on December 16, 2017 by The WestCoast Breeze

In our presentation, How The West Was Smooth, I created and played a montage of some of my favorite West Coast classics from the late 70s & early 80s. These were all non-Top 40 hits in the US. There are many more that I could have added, so instead I created another montage.

Smooth out your day with these clips:

Westcoast CCM

Posted on December 2, 2017 by The WestCoast Breeze

Since the dawn of Christian rock in the early 70s, CCM (contemporary Christian music) artists have been trying to figure out ways to cross over to the mainstream. TIn the late 70s and early 80s they figured the best way to do it was through the aqueduct of Westcoast smoothness. Outside of Chris Christian’s I Want You, I Need You in 1981, none of them had much success, but they still created some funky grooves while spreading their love from above. Eventually after Amy Grant’s pop breakthrough in 1991, other artists, such as Michael W. Smith and Kathy Troccoli, followed her into the Top 40.

Here’s a montage of Westcoast CCM artists from 1978-1984.

West Coast from Around the World

Posted on November 20, 2017 by The WestCoast Breeze

Westcoast music was becoming so popular in the US in the mid to late 70s and its popularity spread as the music was exported around the globe to many other countries. Naturally musicians from those countries became influence by that sound and wanted to give their take on those smooth vibes.

Here’s a montage of West Coast music from outside of the US recorded in the 70s & 80s:

The History Of West Coast Music Presentation @Asheville FM

Posted on October 18, 2017 by The WestCoast Breeze

Join us on November 13th, 2017, from 6-8 PM at the Asheville FM Radio Station as we present How The West Was Smooth: The History Of West Coast Music. Seating is limited, so please register by emailing sarah@ashevillefm.org.