The California Poppy Pickers were a studio project formed in 1969 by producer Gary Paxton under Alshire Records, aiming to deliver budget-friendly renditions of popular hits. The original lineup featured multi-instrumentalists Ken Johnson and Dennis Payne, along with pedal steel guitarist Leo LeBlanc. They released three albums in 1969—*Sounds of '69*, *Hair/Aquarius*, and *Today's Chart Busters*—primarily consisting of covers and original compositions. Their fourth album, *Honky Tonk Women*, featured a different lineup, including members of the Christian rock band Wilson McKinley. ([music.apple.com](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-california-poppy-pickers/280215988?utm_source=openai))