• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Archives
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Carmel Magazine

The Lifestyle Magazine of the Central Coast

  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food & Wine
  • Music
  • Golf
  • Cars
  • Subscribe to Carmel Magazine!

Home Away from Hollywood

Celebrities Flock to the Monterey Peninsula

August 31, 2020 by Michael Chatfield

Hendrix At Monterey
MONTEREY, CA – JUNE 18: American guitarist Jimi Hendrix (1942 – 1970) plays his Fender Stratocaster guitar while performing at the Monterey International Pop Music Festival, on June 18, 1967 in Monterey, California. (Photo by Ed Caraeff/Getty Images)

From its earliest days, Carmel-by-the-Sea has lured the famous to its borders. Most are looking for a break from the pressure-cooker life that comes with having an instantly recognizable face. In the late 19th century, when a vibrant and thriving artist community sprang up here, literary luminaries such as Robert Louis Stevenson found respite here, followed by Robinson Jeffers (who built the quirky Tor House out of stone at Carmel Point with his own hands) and Jack London. John Steinbeck was born in nearby Salinas and spent a good portion of his adult life here, immortalizing and romanticizing a portion of industrial Monterey—and his good friend, marine biologist Ed Ricketts—in his novel “Cannery Row.” Renowned artists such as photographers Ansel Adams and Edward Weston drew inspiration from Carmel and Big Sur, as did legions of world-known painters.

And, of course, there are the television and movie stars. He could live just about anywhere, but CBS Sports announcer Jim Nantz has chosen to raise his family just a 2-iron shot from Pebble Beach. The guy who started that tournament, Bing Crosby, also maintained a home here for many years. Actresses such as Rosanna Arquette and Hollywood’s Golden Age star Joan Fontaine both resided here.

There are musicians and rock stars too: Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has a home in Big Sur, Oscar-winning film composer Alan Silvestri calls Carmel Highlands home and Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen recently relocated to Carmel Valley.

Following are a famous few who have graced the Monterey Peninsula with their presence at some point in their lives. Some most will be familiar with, some might come as a surprise, but all made a mark on this little corner of paradise—and there’s no doubt that it made a huge impression on their lives.

Jimi Hendrix

In 1961, young James Marshall Hendrix was given a choice: two years in jail or enlist in the Army. He wisely chose the latter and underwent basic training at Fort Ord. As Jimi, the guitar virtuoso returned to the Peninsula for his career making appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

Joan Baez

The folk singer owned a Carmel Valley home that she briefly shared with her equally famous lover, Bob Dylan. Baez founded her Institute for the Study of Nonviolence in a former school building on what is now the Stonepine Estate Resort.

Frank Zappa

In his memoir, “The Real Frank Zappa Book,” the controversial avant-garde composer noted, “We moved from Monterey to Pacific Grove…I spent my recreational hours building puppets and model planes and making homemade explosives from whatever ingredients I could find.” Before picking up a guitar, Zappa honed his show-biz skills by staging “Madcap Puppets,” a show he performed with friends at PG’s Grove Theater, the Monterey County Fair and on local television.

Kim Novak

The stunning star escaped the Hollywood life for the Carmel Highlands with the purpose of “creating a lifestyle in harmony with nature while combining it with my love of painting and writing poetry.” She later raised llamas on a Carmel Valley property.

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood is without question Carmel’s most famous resident. In addition to his obvious Hollywood domination, he’s also an extraordinarily successful businessman—and, famously, former mayor of his adopted hometown.

Doris Day

One of Carmel’s—and the world’s—most beloved residents was late actor, singer and animal advocate Doris Day. She turned her back on Hollywood decades ago, preferring the laid-back Carmel vibe. She was also a co-owner of the Cypress Inn.

Betty White

“Oh, hi there. I’m Betty White. Welcome to my crib!” So begins the venerable comedic actress in her YouTube tour of her Carmel house. The Golden Girl turned 98 in January and has been a local resident for nearly half of those years.

Merv Griffin

Singer, talk show host, game show creator and hotel and casino owner Merv Griffin resided in a magnificent mountain-top home in Carmel Valley. Through the years, he hosted a Who’s Who of celebrities to party in the warm Valley sun.

John Denver

Though he lived in the Carmel Highlands, singer-songwriter-actor John Denver is sadly also famous for having died here. The “Rocky Mountain High” singer perished when his plane crashed near Pacific Grove in 1997.

Sammy Hagar

Not many know that Sammy Hagar was born in Monterey. He returns to the Peninsula frequently. “It’s a very spiritual place,” Hagar, aka The Red Rocker, says. A lifelong car guy, he attends the Monterey Peninsula’s Car Week events when possible.

Filed Under: Summer/Fall 2020 Tagged With: Lifestyle

Primary Sidebar

CURRENT & PAST EDITIONS HERE

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

GUIDETOCARMEL

READ THE GUIDE HERE

Tags

Cars Food & Wine Golf Lifestyle Music Travel

ForAdvertisers

  • ► Publisher’s Note
  • ► Mission Statement
  • ► Ad Rates
  • ► Ad Specs
  • ► Editorial Calendar
  • ► Advertise in Carmel Magazine
  • ► Media Contact
  • ► Full Media Kit

Secondary Sidebar

Archives

  • December 2022
  • September 2022
  • June 2022
  • March 2022
  • December 2021
  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • March 2021
  • December 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • February 2020
  • November 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • August 2018
  • May 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017
  • August 2017
  • May 2017
  • February 2017
  • November 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • November 2015
  • August 2015
  • May 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • August 2014
  • May 2014
  • February 2014
  • November 2013
  • August 2013
  • May 2013
  • February 2013
  • November 2012
  • August 2012
  • May 2012
  • February 2012
  • November 2011
  • August 2011
  • May 2011
  • February 2011
  • November 2010
  • August 2010
  • May 2010
  • February 2010
  • November 2009
  • August 2009
  • May 2009
  • February 2009
  • November 2008
  • August 2008
  • February 2008
  • November 2007
  • August 2007
  • May 2007
  • February 2007
  • November 2006

Footer

Carmel Magazine is the quarterly lifestyle magazine for Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula, featuring the notable people and places, arts, food and wine, destinations, styles and events of Carmel and the Peninsula.

Address:
126 Clocktower Place, Suite 103
Carmel, CA 93923

Phone: (831) 625-9922
Fax: (831) 626-3613

Recent Posts

  • Cocktails for the Centuries
  • Inside Esalen
  • Journey to the Big Screen
  • Golfing in Paradise
  • A Cliffside Home Built for Generations

Search

Tags

Cars Food & Wine Golf Lifestyle Music Travel

Copyright © 2023 Carmel Magazine · Carmel, California · Designed by BEAR★PRESS