POPera
Discover the Era That Changed It All
Welcome to POPera, where nostalgia doesn’t just knock — it bursts through the door with a melody! Think back to when vinyl wasn’t vintage, and the music didn’t just play; it moved a nation. Here, every note beckons you back to a transformative era where the soundtrack of life was as rich and diverse as the times themselves.
— Stevie Wonder
Delve into an auditory spectacle celebrating the greatest music generation — the Baby Boomers. POPera takes you on a euphoric trip down memory lane, a musical happening that revives the golden days of pop. With hit songs spanning from 1964 to 1981, POPera isn’t just a tribute; it’s a passage back to the days that resonate with each strum, beat, and lyric in our collective memory.
The Soundtrack of Your Journey Awaits
Remember the pulse of the crowd, the chill of the band hitting that perfect harmony, the feelings that flood back with the opening chords of a long-loved tune? They’re all here. Waiting.
Indulge in the timeless power of music. Sign up to be notified about news, events, and more. Join our POPera Facebook Group and and chime in on your music faves. And check out our blog for an instant jukebox of the pop music era and turn up the volume to relive memories we all cherish, the ones that define us. Let the musical adventure begin.
POPera
Turn the Beat Around! ✌️What is POPera all about?
POPera is an innovative incubation endeavor spearheaded by Michael Tchong, a renowned futurist, trend analyst, technology visionary, and adjunct professor of innovation at the University of San Francisco.* If you, or someone within your network, shares Michael’s fervor for this unparalleled era of music, we cordially invite you to reach out and connect with us.
Blog Highlights 🥲
A Tribute to Artists Who Enchant Us
One Toke Over The Line (Michael Brewer b. 14-Apr-44 d. 17-Dec-24)
Michael Brewer, one half of the folk-rock duo Brewer & Shipley, passed away at age 80. The duo is best known for their 1970 hit song, “One Toke Over the Line,“ a pro-marijuana anthem that unexpectedly achieved Top 10 status and even appeared on the ”Lawrence Welk Show.” Despite facing censorship during the Nixon era for its drug-related lyrics, the song became a cultural touchstone of the hippie era. Brewer’s career spanned several decades, encompassing numerous albums with Shipley and solo work, showcasing his musical talent and contributions to the music scene.
Truckin’ (Phil Lesh b. 15-Mar-40 d. 25-Oct-24)
The music never stopped for Phil Lesh until now. The legendary Grateful Dead bassist, who danced his notes through the band’s sonic tapestry for over three decades, has died at 84. While most bassists stayed in the background, Lesh turned his instrument into a leading voice, weaving between Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir’s guitars like a melodic conversation. His classical and jazz roots birthed a style all his own, heard in the haunting “Box of Rain” where his voice carried one of the Dead’s most profound meditations on existence, and in that instantly recognizable bass riff that launched “Touch of Grey” to become the band’s only Top 40 hit. Even after the Dead’s official end, Lesh kept the music playing until his final days, proving that like the best of the Dead’s songs, some jams really do go on forever.
All By Myself (Eric Carmen b. 11-Aug-49 d. 11-Mar-24)
Eric Carmen, the voice behind some of rock’s most memorable melodies, has fallen silent. Carmen, who first lit up stages with the Raspberries in the 1970s before crafting his own path to solo stardom, has died at 74. As the frontman of the Raspberries, he helped define power-pop with hits like “Go All the Way,“ but it was his reinvention as a solo artist that truly showcased his range. His piano-driven ballad ”All By Myself” proved there was much more to Carmen than power chords and tight harmonies. While his wife confirmed his passing, she kept the cause private — leaving us with just the music, which, like all great art, will echo long after the artist is gone.