Jeannie Franklyn (again)

 SONG FOR A TAILOR

we have mentioned Jeannie Franklyn before but there is a weblog I visit that looks at muses and girlfriends of stars and musicians that has mentioned her again and it is worth another look for her sake

Famous Muses & Groupies in Rock Music Pt. 44

MUSE: Genie Franklyn (born Jeannie Franklyn)

"Surprisingly, there’s barely any public info on Genie’s background (or at least online) despite her having been popular with celebs socially and running her own successful business. Her birthdate isn’t even public, besides the fact that she was reported to have been age 27 when she died in 1969, so she was born in either 1941 or 1942. We also know that her birthname is Jeannie, but she changed the spelling and came up with the moniker ‘Genie the Tailor’ by the time she started working in Hollywood. Genie is a bit of a ‘Penny Lane’ so to speak. Very well known with the cool crowds in the mid/late 1960s, yet still rather mysterious. Her first big breakthrough was designing and sewing the famous uniforms Paul Revere & the Raiders wore during their concerts and TV performances in 1966. Genie then quickly became in demand from stars all over LA for new clothes, which she happily complied. The celebrities she mainly associated with were musicians and bands, most of whom she also became friendly with. In April 1968, she opened her own boutique in Santa Monica which maintained just as many famous customers. Some of her superstar clients included Mark Lindsay of the Raiders, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork of the Monkees, Cass Elliot of the Mamas & the Papas, David Crosby of the Byrds, Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane, Eric Burdon of the Animals, model/TV host Samantha Juste and folk artist Donovan. One of Genie’s closest friends was Tiger Beat correspondent Ann Moses, whom she personally made a dress for on Ann’s 21st birthday. From the beginning of her career up until her death, Genie herself regularly handmade all her clients’ and her own clothes. 

In summer of 1967, Genie surprised Ann by asking her to go on a double date with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker of Cream. Even though Genie was naturally charismatic and confident with celebs, Eric was apparently one of the very few rockstars who made her starstruck. Ann quickly realized into the night that Genie had a crush on Eric. Genie and Cream bassist Jack Bruce were also occasional friends with benefits, with the music artist later dedicating the title of his 1969 solo album ‘Songs for a Tailor’ to her. Genie also briefly went out with hit musician/songwriter/record producer Jack Nitzsche around late ‘67/early 1968. A shelved 1971 demo called ‘I’ll Bet She Knew It’ Jack once made is said to have been written about her. For many years, Bernie Taupin’s lyrics for Elton John’s 1971 song ‘Tiny Dancer’ were rumored to be referencing Genie (i.e. ‘LA lady, seamstress for the bands’). But in the past decade, Bernie has specifically stated in interviews that the song is a love letter to ‘all’ of the fangirls and groupies he and Elton met when they first visited America in 1970. This would be at least 6 months after Genie’s death, so it’s unlikely they were thinking of her while composing the song. (Though, theoretically, it’s also possible Bernie and Elton learned about her story during their trip through SoCal and the ‘seamstress’ bit is a reference to her.) 

In fall of 1968, Genie began regularly seeing guitarist Richard Thompson of folk band Fairport Convention. Richard was supposedly the most serious boyfriend of the music artists she went out with. A couple months later, she posed for a photoshoot by Baron Wolman for Rolling Stone magazine. At the time, Genie was under the impression the photos were going to be used for an article about Hollywood socialites, with her profile focused on her fashion designs. But they were actually featured in a special spring 1969 issue on the growing goupie phenomenon in the music industry. This annoyed Genie because she considered her relationships legitimate and was interested in more than just partying and hooking up with musicians. She even called and complained to RS editor Jann Wenner about the false labeling, but he just ignored her. A year later in 1970, the article was expanded into a book called Groupies & Other Girls, and still included Genie. 

In May 1969, Genie flew to England to accompany Richard on Fairport’s UK tour. Only a week into traveling, the band’s van crashed off road, ultimately injuring most on board, and killing Genie and drummer Martin Lamble. The tragedy emotionally shook everyone in the band and Richard sunk into a deep depression. Fairport bandmate Sandy Denny wrote the opening track ‘Nothing More’ on her second band, Fotheringay’s 1970 self-titled album about her struggle to reach through to Richard while he shut himself out from everyone. Supposedly two days after Genie died, Jack Bruce received a love letter in the mail from her, which was coincidentally also on his 26th birthday. Jack was allegedly devastated at the news of her death. The last band Genie made clothes for before her premature fate was the Cowsills, only a month earlier in April ‘69. 

Even more bleakly ironic is that Genie’s cousin is famous folk singer Phil Ochs; who also experienced his own tragic death in 1976, when he hanged himself at age 35."

N.B. noting that I too object to the term 'groupie' and the source here is no better IMHO listing Jeannie as such and also mentions and features Jane Asher in relation to Paul McCartney which frankly is ludicrous not least Jeannie's being mentioned thus also! Bad show chaps!

I mention Jeannie here three years ago . . . . .

and also here . . . .