Thе writer οf thе bеаυtіfυl song “Nature Boy” іn 1948, Ahbe, formally renamed eden ahbez, wаѕ a Yogi аnd free spirit, wіth long hair аnd a beard іn thе 1930’s, decades before Hippies οr Beatniks! Thе song wаѕ a hυgе hit fοr Nat King Cole, аnd many οthеr bіg names, bυt Ahbe saw lіttlе οf thе profits, living a spartan life іn a sleeping bag іn parks, mountains аnd іn thе desert. Even whеn hе аnd hіѕ wife Anna hаd a boy named Zoma, thеу still lived οn thе far fringes οf civilization living thе nomastic life. Much саn bе learned аbουt Ahbe frοm thіѕ fine website: www.shadowboxstudio.com I met hіm іn spring οf 1992 аt age 84, 3 years before hе met hіѕ demise, incredulously, bу getting hit bу a car. Hе hung out іn thе California desert near Indio аnd wουld wander іntο town fοr supplies аnd company, sharing hіѕ poems аnd philosophy. I οftеn wonder іf hе wаѕ thе secret inspiration fοr underground cartoonist Robert Crumb’s legendary “Mr. Natural”…Nature Boy wаѕ a trυе original.
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@freemanhubbard Thanks, Joel. I always wondered if Ahbe was the original inspiration for Mr. Natural
@meandminenow – the motivation is simply to have a ‘piece’ of a good and decent man for some of us to hold onto forever. Many revere Eric Clapton’s musical tribute to his late son, who died at the hands of a negligent babysitter. eden ahbez did it over 40 years earlier!
I will understand ‘Nature Boy’ in a new light until I die. That’s the motivation.
Brilliant Sam.
-Joel
I grew up with eden’s son, Zoma. Zoma was brilliant and ahead of his time. I’m glad his dad said such sweet words about him and that this person recorded them.
In the few glimpses we have of this man, I wish the rainspots had been cleaned off the camera lens.
How did Ahbez’s son pass away? That breaks my heart.
Thanks for posting that link. . .
I have been looking for knowledge about eden for a very long time. . . nature boy is my favourite song to play on the piano. First time I heard the music reading the lyrics I cried, since it reminds me so much of someone very close to me. . .
well i saw it
“I don’t wanna go out into the world, i wanna wait just a little bit longer. . . ”
. . . three years later he dies. . .
not until he died he went out into the world
I would Love to have a copy of this video.
As posted before, I can’t thank you enough for capturing this RARE appearance of him in the age I knew him.
Oh yeah, and did you know that The Capital Tower Building in Hollywood was built on Nature Boy royalties? Why do you think painting of Nat King Cole’s face is so large on the side of the building?
I think Nature Boy provided The Black Race a proper place in the White Man’s game. Nat was before Sammy and Mohamed Ali wasn’t he?
Wow, thanks for share it!
Just to be respectful, eden ahbez prefers to have his name in lower case, and even legally changed his name to reflect this. Only God, and Infinity, deserves capital letters, he once said.
tony
I have Eden’s Island on CD and it is amazing
The disingenuous interviewer is seen through by ahbez. I didn’t watch the whole tape as it became evident the holder of the camera was trying to wrest something of value from ahbez. I’ll skip the pretense I would not be part of the payoff with my attendance. One man’s memory is poorer for this transaction and it isn’t the gentle and generous ahbez.
No offense, but you quit too soon. I’m sure you know this, and it happens. Good get what you got.
No, no: he doesn’t want to be taped.
Yes, yes: this is somewhat exploitive.
However it’s not as bad as people may suggest. It’s fair to state this man was genuinely trying to share his experiences with Eden unto others.
Ahbez understood -even back in the 50’s- that mass popularity steals a piece of your soul. The intangible sign you become to others is most times false. Ironically this beautifully displayed within my own comments and those above.
Great vid.
Eden Ahbez had an incredible mind. He wasn’t made for these times. In my opinion, his insight was beyond what even he could comprehend. His life was beyond the typical label one can assign to such an individual. His work and his influence still lives in those who have discovered him.
Actually, just did some more research. This guy had an impressive song writing beyond the Nat King Cole Hit. And he was in the Studio all the time. So although a Hippie. He did work a lot.
He was a smart guy, he knew he was being taped the whole time. He WANTED to be taped. Which is why he walks closer to the camera at one point and asks about it. This is Historic footage, and I’m sure he would be glad people can now see and hear him, as he lives on. I had no idea who he was until I searched for the song and found this video. Well done.
boooooooring
what’s the motivation behind this vid?
he didn’t write nature boy, my great grandfather did.
Hi,
I can’t help but agree with the first person who posted in the comments section about this video. I too don’t get the feeling that you were trying to exploit Mr. Ahbez, but it unfortunately does come off that way. I suppose we all want a moment of this mans life, to try and tie something in to the person behind one of the most powerful pieces of music ever recorded, but maybe not at his emotional expense.
Ahbez was a beautiful and free soul!
Bob Dylan wouldn’t have stood for this guy’s cajoling and prompting, etc. He’d've told him to jump in a lake.