[fidelis]

Kind of ironic how the article paints it as SoCal American Culture, when it’s more just American. The lyrics aren't particularly SoCal (people drive fast in cars all across the USA), but the sound is classic SoCal beach vibe-- like the Ventures, the Rivieras, Jan & Dean, the Surfaris, the Tradewinds, Ronny & the Daytonas, etc.

[Fiji Hill]

The Tradewinds sounded SoCal, but they were from Providence, RI on the right coast. In 1960 they waxed Mr. Lonely, later to be a fixture on the paylist of KWIZ, which blasted Oldies across SoCal from the Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana and was my station of choice.

The Tradewinds' "New York's a Lonely Town" hit hard in SoCal. KRLA, one of LA's two rock blasters, had its own version of the song, which it played exclusively.