Alan Wilson's BLIND OWL BLUES (Pt. II)

We're continuing with a review of the book, BLIND OWL BLUES -- The Mysterious Life and Death of Blues Legend Alan Wilson by Rebecca Davis Winters. This amazing work puts you inside the legend -- his thoughts, passions and goals, with-and-without Canned Heat.

In Chapter 8, for example, where Blind Owl introduces his friend, Roger Handy, to ... God! Actually, it was a recording by the blues legend (and father of the amplified blues harmonica) "Little Walter" Jacobs. Amidst Alan's apartment "furnishings" (instruments from xylophones and vibes to marimbas and congas), Roger listened to the record and realised that Jacobs sounded just like Al!
Actually, Alan idolised Little Walter, and was impressed with the legend's distinct style. And, whilst Alan was influenced heavily by Walter and other blues-harp legends, he was determined to mix his own style into it ...

That led Wilson to make a statement that every artist or entertainer needs to understand, especially today:

Individuality is a key to artistic excellence!

DRIVING HOME A POINT

Though Alan wasn't one for the "American rite of passage" (as the book called learning to drive ...), he did receive a van from frontman "Bear" Hite for his 25th birthday. In fact, Hite -- along with other members of Canned Heat -- finally taught him how to drive the van. This gave Alan a perfect way to commune with and study nature -- in fact, he lived in the van and often went camping, making notes and collecting various flora in plastic bags for later study.

As you read through Chapter 15 (Blind Owl Behind The Wheel), you'll find yourself in the van with Alan -- whose nearsightedness and wandering mind caused the vehicle to wreck twice. Still, it opened up a whole new world for him ... you can just imagine the awe of majesty he felt when visiting the Redwoods!

Speaking of Redwoods, let me stop here (believe me, Pts. III and IV will definitely be coming up shortly ...) to include this message from his half-sister, who just wrote me a couple of days ago:

She writes:

"Feeling a strong need to do something for Alan, my family has recently launched alanwilsoncannedheat.com and purchased a Redwood Memorial Grove Naming in his name through the Save the Redwoods League. Donations to this memorial can be made on our site via a link to the SRWL."
Yardbirds, do yourself -- and out natural resources -- a biiiiiiiiig favour, okay?? Click on that link and make a donation today!

How to make the donations?? She continues:

... in his name to the Save the Redwood League. Way before "We Are The World" and "Farm Aid" Alan was probably one of the 1st musicians to organize a Rock' n' Roll benefit called "Music Mountain" who's purpose was to raise enough $ to save a large grove of redwoods in Skunk Cabbage Creek from being logged. Unfortunately, when he died so, too, did the project.

Let's DO it, people!!

See ya on the flip side with Pt. III!