Who lived on Blue Jay Way?

Blue Jay Way is a small, winding road in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, California. The street, which runs roughly north-south, connects Sunset Boulevard to the north with Woodrow Wilson Drive to the south. Though only about a half mile long, Blue Jay Way has garnered worldwide fame thanks to its association with The Beatles.

The Beatles’ stay on Blue Jay Way

In August 1967, George Harrison, lead guitarist for The Beatles, rented a house on Blue Jay Way while the band was in Los Angeles to meet with their new manager Allen Klein. On August 1, 1967, Harrison had been waiting for publicist Derek Taylor and Joan Baez’s sister Mimi Fariña to join him at the rented home. However, Harrison soon realized they were lost trying to navigate the winding roads of the Hollywood Hills to find the address.

While waiting for his guests to arrive, Harrison began writing a new song, aptly titled “Blue Jay Way.” The lyrics describe Harrison’s frustration sitting in the house awaiting his lost visitors: “There’s a fog upon L.A. / And my friends have lost their way / They’ll be over soon they said / Now they’ve lost themselves instead.”

Later that evening, Derek Taylor and Mimi Fariña finally found their way to the home on Blue Jay Way. By that time, Harrison had completed the song that would appear on The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour EP later that year.

History of Blue Jay Way

Blue Jay Way was named after the blue jays that inhabit the Hollywood Hills area. The street was constructed in 1947 within a newly developed neighborhood of the hills called “Sky Haven.” The homes on Blue Jay Way featured mid-century modern architecture popular in Los Angeles in the post-war period.

Prior to The Beatles’ 1967 stay, one of the most famous residents of Blue Jay Way was Hollywood lyricist Jay Livingston. Livingston wrote many classic songs like “Que Sera, Sera,” “Mona Lisa,” and “Silver Bells.” He owned a large home on Blue Jay Way from the 1950s up until his death in 2001.

Other notable residents

In addition to The Beatles and Jay Livingston, other celebrated musicians and actors have lived on the narrow street over the years. Some other notable Blue Jay Way residents include:

• Carly Simon – Singer-songwriter behind hits like “You’re So Vain” and “Nobody Does It Better.”
• Ike Turner – R&B musician and ex-husband of Tina Turner.
• Tim Curry – Actor known for The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Clue.
• Lisa Stansfield – British pop/R&B singer popular in the 1980s and 90s.
• Chris Montez – Singer of the 1962 hit “Let’s Dance.”

Today, many other celebrities and entertainment professionals call Blue Jay Way home due to its proximity to the Hollywood studios and hotspots like the Sunset Strip.

Blue Jay Way in popular culture

Beyond The Beatles’ famous song, Blue Jay Way has made cameos over the years in movies, TV shows, books, and other media:

Film and TV

• Blue Jay Way can be spotted in driving scenes in the film Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts.
• AWARDS: In an episode of the HBO series Entourage, Vincent Chase buys a home on Blue Jay Way after winning his first major acting award.
• The street is featured briefly in a tracking shot in the film The Big Lebowski as The Dude drives through Hollywood.
• In Beverly Hills Cop II starring Eddie Murphy, the police captain lives on Blue Jay Way.

Music

• Jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins released a live album in 2004 titled Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert that featured an 18-minute instrumental version of “Blue Jay Way.”
• American rock band Phish has covered “Blue Jay Way” in concert numerous times dating back to 1989.
• Punk rockers Green Day referenced Blue Jay Way in their 2016 song “Youngblood” with the lyrics “Stranded on Blue Jay Way / There’s nowhere left to roam.”

Other

• In her 2012 memoirs, actress Debbie Reynolds reveals she once lived next door to The Beatles on Blue Jay Way.
• Blue Jay Way is featured in the Hardy Boys book The Secret of the Soldier’s Gold as the street where the young detectives stay while in Hollywood.
• Erotic fiction author Zane set a steamy short story on the street, titled “Blue Jay Way” after the song.

Interesting facts about Blue Jay Way

Here are some other fascinating facts about this famous Hollywood roadway:

• California naturalist John Muir is believed to have ridden through the Hollywood Hills area where Blue Jay Way now exists back in the late 1800s.
• The nonprofit Hollywood Arts Council offers a special tour called “The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour” that takes visitors down Blue Jay Way and other Beatles-related spots in Hollywood.
• Zillow estimates the average home value on Blue Jay Way at $1.9 million as of 2018.
• Despite being in a busy part of Los Angeles, the street feels secluded thanks to the remote hillside location and trees that line both sides of the road.
• A small lane branching off of Blue Jay Way is named Maccabbee Lane, a misspelled reference to The Beatles’ nickname “The Fab Four.”

Visiting Blue Jay Way today

Although a dead end street in a remote part of the Hollywood Hills, fans of The Beatles and pop culture still make the pilgrimage today to visit this legendary road.

Those wanting to walk in George Harrison’s footsteps can drive up to find the narrow street, identifiable by its green street sign. Free parking spots can often be found along Blue Jay Way. Views from the street look out over the sprawling city below.

While taking in the sights, be sure to walk the same pavement Harrison did up to the home where he penned the melancholy tune “Blue Jay Way” while awaiting the arrival of friends one foggy evening in 1967.

Conclusion

With its rich history tied to 1960s and 70s rock ‘n roll, Blue Jay Way remains a fascinating hidden gem in the hills of Hollywood. Music fans, Beatles devotees, and pop culture buffs will undoubtedly enjoy a trip to explore this winding street and its place in music folklore. But be sure not to get lost along the way like so many before!