In the 1960s and 70s Mill Valley was a bastion of musical creativity and performance. Prune Music, located at 10 Locust Avenue, was in the right place at the right time and became the meeting spot for many of the Bay Area’s musicians. Join us as Prune Music founders David Kessner and Randy Smith, along with co-owners Bill Steele and Larry Cragg, discuss the history of Prune Music and the musical culture it supported and helped to create.

David Kessner co-founded Prune Music in Berkeley in 1968 with Randy Smith. He opened Prune Music in Mill Valley on Sunnyside in 1969. Later he owned and operated The Church Studio in San Anselmo from 1972 to 1979. He still performs and writes songs for movies and TV.

Randall Smith co-founded Prune Music. A leading guitar amplifier repairman and innovator and inventor of numerous amp technologies, Randall also founded amp manufacturer Mesa/Boogie.

Bill Steele met David Kessner and Randy Smith at Prune Music in 1968 at the Berkeley store and joined them in their new adventure in Mill Valley. In 2005 Bill co-founded Great Wilderness, a conservation nonprofit working in South America. Bill also serves on the Board of Directors for West Marin Community Services.

Larry Cragg was Prune Music’s guitar repairman. He spent thirty-five years touring as Neil Young’s guitar and amp tech and was the baritone sax player in “Neil Young & the Bluenotes.” He currently serves as a consultant on development of the new Magnatone amplifiers, has a guitar repair shop in San Anselmo, and owns Vintage Instrument Rental.