Biography

Llyn Foulkes was born on November 17, 1934 in Yakima, Washington, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Happy Song for You (2011), Your Name Here (2008) and Falling Pink (1959). He died on November 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, USA.

In 1967, he was awarded the painting prize at the Paris Biennale at the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and he had a exhibition there. That same year, he was selected to represent the United States in the IX São Paulo Art Biennial at the Museu de Arte Moderna São Paulo, Brazil.

His work exhibited internationally at such institutions as the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, New Museum in New York, and Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Served two years in postwar Germany before returning to the US to attend Chouinard Art Institute (now CalArts) through 1959.

Studied music and art at Central Washington College of Education in Ellensburg until 1954 as he was drafted into the US Army.

He played drums with City Lights from 1965 to 1971, and formed his own band, The Rubber Band, in 1973, which stayed together until 1977. By 1979, Foulkes had returned to his childhood interest in one-man bands and began playing solo with "The Machine," which he created. He performed with The Machine regularly on the West Coast and released a CD of original compositions, entitled Llyn Foulkes and His Machine: Live at the Church of Art.