Charlie Cox has been busking at the La Brea Tar Pits park for so long that the city literally grew him a shade tree to stand under. The talented music man moved from North Florida to L.A. in 1975. “I had a job lined up, but it didn't work out,” Cox explains. “Someone told me they had buskers over near the art museum, and I've been playing here ever since.” Cox sings old folk songs, bluegrass and an occasional original, using a banjo, mandolin, guitar and pennywhistle. He doesn't take requests for contemporary hits (which he calls “mindless”) but the museum still recognizes him as a valuable staple, even carrying his CD in the gift shop. “It's an all-around love fest over here,” he says. You can find Cox busking under his tree from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., every day except Mondays and Wednesdays. For a special treat, ask him to play “The Original Tar Pit Waltz.” —Isaac Simpson

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