The Chicago Beat Goes On in L A
The legendary drummer prefers the warmth of his hillside California home
Drummer Danny Seraphine will always be associated with Chicago — both the city (his former hometown) and the pop band that had 21 top 10 singles. But since he “couldn’t handle the winters” he moved from the Windy City to California in 1968 and, after a painful divorce in 2011, found himself looking for another warm home that would make him smile.
“I was basically beginning a new chapter in life and needed to get my own space, something new,” Danny, 68, shares with Closer. “My [film producer] son JD isn’t a realtor, but I gave him a list of my wants and he did a great job. When I saw the views and all the possibilities here, I was hooked!”
At 2,324 square feet , the threebedroom, three-and-a-half-bath “eclectic modern” house JD found in Thousand Oaks, Calif., had plenty of room to build the recording studio and office Danny wanted. And then along came a woman:
Danny’s wife of four years, fellow drummer Pamela Lynn-Seraphine. “It was a whole new start,” he says.
Though he admits that living in the home during renovations “was a drag,” the results were well worth it. One of the first things they did was remodel the open kitchen, which “really upgraded the place,” Danny says. “It’s the heart of the house — we spend almost all of our time here.”
They also soundproofed most of the garage. “Part of the garage is built into a hill at the back of the house, so it was naturally soundproofed,” he says. “But you could still hear the drums inside. We’ve been known to do a ‘battle of the drummers’ competition. Pamela always wins, though, because she’s younger!”
When he’s not making music, Danny enjoys the serenity of the outdoor patio, which is surrounded by lush greenery and gorgeous vistas. He also likes to kick back in the living room, with its bright natural light giving the space an open, airy feel. As for decor, Danny prefers woodsy browns that match his drums, leaving the brighter hues to pop in paintings by his favorite Colorado artist, David Parker. “I often buy art while I’m traveling, as it also acts as a nice reminder of places I’ve been,” he says.
You won’t find his Grammy or American Music awards on display (“I have them in a box somewhere,” he says. “That reminds me, I really need to find them!”), but Danny’s proud to celebrate his former band’s 50th anniversary this year and, as they sang, it’s only the beginning. He’s teaming with another exChicagoan, Bill Champlin (the voice of hits like “Look Away”) for Chicago’s Finest, a new band that celebrates songs of his hometown.
But what makes this home a special place for Danny isn’t memorabilia. “It’s having each other, and a lot of love around,” he says. “Home is where the heart is.”
— Reporting by Steve Gidlow
“My son represented me as my real estate agent. It came in very
handy and worked great
for me!”
— Danny (with son JD)