In 1963, members of The Blue Velvets were watching a PBS documentary on Vince Guaraldi, who had a recent hit with "Cast Your Fate To The Wind." The Blue Velvets were excited to learn that Guaraldi's label, Fantasy Records, was located nearby in Oakland, CA.

The band approached Max Weiss, co-owner of Fantasy Records, about doing some instrumentals for the label. Weiss was impressed with the energy of the band and signed them, but had them change their name to The Golliwogs (which they kept for 3.5 years).

After Fantasy Records was sold to Saul Zaentz, the band changed their name again- to Creedence Clearwater Revival.

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After Doug Clifford and John Fogerty met at Portola Junior High School, they began to practice in the rumpus room of Stu Cook, whose father owned a piano.

Stu Cook played piano (later switching to bass), Doug Clifford played drums, and John Fogerty played guitar. Together they formed the band The Blue Velvets. Later on, John's brother Tom Fogerty would join the band, eventually transforming into Creedence Clearwater Revival.

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The cover for CCR's 1969 album Willy and the Poor Boys was shot outside the Duck Kee Market by Basul Parik.

John Fogerty liked the idea of a traveling band theme for the album, and the photo features the members of CCR jamming outside the location.

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Originally built by the WPA in the late 1930s, the El Cerrito High School opened its doors on January 6, 1941.

The student body outgrew the original building rather quickly, and so the high school began to spread across the campus. By 2007, the entire campus was demolished and a new school facility was reopened on January 5, 2009.

All four original members of Creedence Clearwater Revival attended the high school from 1959-1963.

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Three members of Creedence Clearwater revival were born in 1945 and attended the Portola Junior High School in El Cerrito at the same time: singer/songwriter and lead guitarist John Fogerty, drummer Doug Clifford, and bassist Stu Cook.

Clifford first heard Fogerty playing piano in the music room of Portola (Mrs. Clark's music room, #508). Clifford recognized the Fats Domino and Little Richard tunes, and started a conversation with Fogerty. Fogerty said that he preferred to play guitar, and Clifford mentioned that he was a drummer. He also stated that his friend, Stu Cook, played piano and had a rumpus room they could use to practice.

According to Clifford, “I said this without having first talked with Stu or his dad. But I was wheeling and dealing back then."

The trio became a honky-tonk instrumental group called the Blue Velvets, and they played their first gig at a sock hop in the school's gym.

Note: now Fred T. Korematsu Middle School

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