Hollywood Lights Dimmed in Tribute to Sunset Strip Legend

     MUSIC NEWS-  Hollywood’s most famous music venues dimmed their lights on Friday night in honor of Elmer Valentine, The Roxy founder and former Whisky a Go Go boss, who died in his sleep on Wednesday (12/3/08).  A former Chicago police detective and WW2 aviator, he was 85.  To honor Valentine, lights at The Roxy, Whisky a Go Go, the Key Club, Viper Room and the House of Blues dimmed their lights for a minute on Friday, December 5.   Music legend Lou Adler, who founded The Roxy with Valentine in 1973, said, "It’s somehow fitting that the man who turned the Sunset Strip lights on would be honoured by the lights of those venues that followed his imprint turning theirs off in a tribute to him."   He opened his first nightclub, PJ’s, in Los Angeles in 1960, shortly after relocating to LA. He returned to Los Angeles after a global trip and opened the Whisky a Go Go in 1964.
He and Adler opened the Rainbow Bar & Grill in 1972 and The Roxy Theatre the following year.