Harvey Kubernik was born in Los Angeles. He attended Fairfax High School and West Los Angeles College, and graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. Special Major Degree (Health, Sociology, Literature). He began his career in music journalism in 1972. He later recalled that his attending a pre-tour press conference in Los Angeles for George Harrison's 1974 North American tour helped establish him professionally. A junior contributor to "Los Angeles Free Press" at the time, Kubernik offered a report of the press conference to "Melody Maker" editor Ray Coleman, in London, which led to a front-page story and weekly assignments for the British magazine from 1975 to 1980.