Blind Owl Blues: The Mysterious Life and Death of Blues Legend Alan Wilson

by Rebecca Davis

This is the long-awaited story of Alan Wilson, musical genius and co-founder of Canned Heat. Biographer Rebecca Davis journeys through his artistic innovations, tormented personal life, obsessive love of nature, and mysterious death. A key figure in the 1960s "blues revival", Wilson participated in the rediscovery of Son House, and wrote scholarly analyses of House and Robert Pete Williams. He went on to co-found pioneering blues-rock band Canned Heat, becoming an unlikely rock star. Known as "Blind Owl", he was responsible for the hit songs "Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again".

Genres: Music, Biography

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Rebecca Davis has over a decade of experience in journalism and the music industry. Her specialties include blues and the folk/blues-rock revival of the 1960s. Former manager of the acclaimed acoustic venue The Radio Room At KAFM, she now provides private services for a variety of needs in the music and media industries.

Davis is an accomplished author and provides a constant stream of articles covering a diverse number of topics. She is fully accomplished in a variety of literary capacities, and has fulfilled writing assignments including radio promotional copy, on-air and print promos for concerts, copy for music promotions, concert promotions, press releases, procedures and policies for the work place, ghostwriting, editing, liner notes for CDs, commentary, reviews, profiles, and bios for artists. She has contributed to newspapers, magazines, and other media on local and national levels.

In summer 2007, Davis presented the groundbreaking musicological biography Blind Owl Blues. This long-awaited story of Alan Wilson, musical genius and co-founder of Canned Heat, journeys through his tormented life, brilliant music, and mysterious death. Known as "Blind Owl", Wilson was instrumental in the sixties blues-rock movement with hit songs "Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again". With original research including interviews with surviving friends and musical colleagues, Blind Owl Blues documents the truth about Wilson while paying tribute to his artistic accomplishments. This first-ever Blind Owl biography is available through the author's website: http://blindowlbio.com

Davis enjoys writing, reading, hiking, and drinking coffee. Current projects include a revised edition of her second book, a manual on the safe and effective use of Runes. It is tentatively scheduled for release in 2012.

Reviews

[M. Sarki]

https://rogueliterarysociety.com/f/bl...

Complaints by others aside, my gratitude to Rebecca Davis and her obsessive love for all things Alan Wilson alludes an almost religious aspect. The useful and fascinating information provided in this book encourages additional exploration of the blues genre especially as it pertains to Alan Wilson and what drove his interest and perfection. The personal struggles of Wilson being a shy person, along with not understanding the ways of love or women, were also helpful. A critic wanting to find fault with Davis’s spelling, syntax, or grammar should be held in contempt. For the most part this Kindle edition has been corrected. The generosity of Rebecca Davis’s research leads those interested to many other crossroads and frontiers. Prior to reading this book I accidentally found myself obsessed with the seminal band Canned Heat, and in so doing through Rebecca Davis, discovered in Alan Wilson a brilliant and tortured soul who made a significant difference in the world.

...He liked Skip James because of his pitch, which he thought was perfectly tuned and also unique...he was happy that there were guys like James who could sing the blues softly…

Alan Wilson’s voice was a unique instrument, and his using it demonstrated not only courage but a knowing genius not privy to the common listener. Wilson was a complicated man. Davis explores the many aspects of his personality and genius. Wilson obviously preferred the natural world over the one populated by most humans and situated generally in urban areas. The conflicts presented in his living in both worlds proved to be too much for his fragile soul. But Wilson left many examples of his work, and through diligent and thoughtful research Rebecca Davis not only produced an astounding study of him but made his spirit come alive.

[Skyobrien]

Fabulous book about a local Boston boy who happened to help open up the genius of rural blues to the rest of the world. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time and this book aptly chronicles Alan's journey. He was a misfit who was never comfortable whenever he was, yet somehow, he was able to give us all a tremendous gift, his love of the blues. I would love to see this book made into a movie.....for anyone who loves blues music, highly recommended.

[Mark Desrosiers]

A great book on music legend The Blind Owl Alan Wilson. I didn’t know very much about Alan Wilson until I started listening to John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat’s Hooker and Heat. What a talented individual, he played Harmonica and guitar with a lot of great Blues legends, Son House, Skip James, John Lee Hooker etc. knowing many of their songs note for note. Such a tragedy that he died at such a early age. Was a little annoyed that almost every chapter explains his lack of personal hygiene. He just dedicated every minute to music and didn’t spend a lot of time taking care of himself. A great biography and another music innovator that died way to early. RIP BLIND OWL 🦉.

[Dale Virden]

THE Alan Wilson bio

I believe this book is, and always will be the definitive work on the life of Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson. The author did an amazing job of doing exhaustive research. No small feat considering the very long lapse of time since Al’s tragic and mysterious death.

[Patrick Macke]

That Alan Wilson co-founded a band like Canned Heat, was a true sage of the Mississippi blues, was forever associated with the concept of "boogie", that it's his voice and songs that in many ways serve as the clarion call of an entire generation is so amazingly impossible that it borders on the unbelievable, but the Blind Owl was real and fragile and so authentic ... his is a sweet sad story, his music, to this day a gift from the Gods ... Genius is so often misunderstood, Alan Wilson just wanted to be outdoors, playing the blues, don't we all

[David Lynch]

I never met Alan Wilson, but I did meet many of the people connected to him through my passion for blues and old records (in the mid 70s). Alan Wilson has always fascinated me, so when I found out this book existed, I bought it immediately. I am enjoying the content of the book, but I wish it was better written. There is a lot of repetition of information, and even some annoying typos and editing mistakes.

[Nicole Foster]

A wonderful tribute to a wonderful musician who is constantly over looked despite his great achievements to not only blues music, but the generation as a whole. Alan was a beautiful soul and Rebecca does a wonderful job of elaborating on this fact throughout the novel. I wish this book was more known. Alan's legacy must be known by all. After all, he is often considered the greatest white blues musician who ever lived.

[Cooper Renner]

Strong examination of the life of an immensely talented man.

2nd reading: Somewhat clumsily assembled, but where else will you find so much information on this insufficiently appreciated man?

[E.Michael Helms]

A wonderful insight into the genius and driving force behind the original band, Canned Heat. Al (Blind Owl, so named for his bad eyesight) Wilson was an excellent guitar player who took an early interest in the "old" blues of the 1920s - '50s and later. He was one of the greatest harmonica players in blues music, actually bending reeds within the harp to get the particular sound he wanted. He was also a very shy, inhibited soul, and turned to his love of nature to find pleasure in this world. Sadly, he died in 1970 at the age of 27 from an accidental overdose of sleep medication while sleeping among his beloved redwood trees in California. Ms. Davis had done an excellent job of digging up a lot of info about Blind Owl, especially considering the rather scarcity of contacts and sources about this very private and tortured musician. In my opinion, Canned Heat lost its soul when the band lost Al Wilson. A sad but moving read.

[David Phillips]

This was a really interesting read on a a fascinating subject. Alan Wilson is clearly a complex character and, without seeming much to go on, the author has managed to generate a well-rounded view of the the musician and the man.
To produce a biography of someone for whom there does not seem to be an abundance of recorded interviews, anecdotes, and friends to speak to, and manage to piece together his life is no mean feat.

[Atlix Martinez]

This book is truly amazing. Every detail Rebecca writes is with great loving respect for our beloved Al.

I write this for any future readers that are interested in Al’s story. This amazing book demonstrates that thee blues is more than a style of music, it’s an outlet for the troubled mind. If you happen to have the blues, this book will show you first hand how it can help.

Thank you Rebecca for writing such a special book. We needed this in our world.

[Doofus Mcdingberry Carlbutter]

I absolutely loved this book and since I suffer from CRS ( can't remember shit ) I need to re read it. Rebecca Davis is an amazing writer and I can't thank her enough for writing this book and I will forever kick myself for not learning about Alan Wilson sooner ( I'm fiddy one and had a misspent youth ). What a shame he died so young and talented. My only regret from this book ( if that's the right word? ) is that it wasn't written sooner but that can't be helped since I'm sure it didn't cross too many people's minds back when Alan died. Regardless the book is wonderful and sometimes mysteries shouldn't be solved. I consider myself fortunate and blessed to own this book and have purchased most of Canned Heats CD's to date. Thank you very much Ms. Davis for writing this book. YOU ARE APPRECIATED.

[Tom Walsh]

If there is a movie to be made about Alan Wilson’s contributions to Canned Heat, research would have to begin (and likely end) with this book. This is a very thorough and comprehensive study on Wilson’s personality, his creative process, and his place in bringing America’s original blues interpretations into rock and roll.

“There us no heat without the owl.”

[Jim McGurn]

Excellent rock bio. Surprisingly good.

[Jim Bartlett]

A great bio of an overlooked talent. I think of the line from Don Mcleans “Vincent “…the world was never meant for one as beautiful as you

[Peter McDermott]

Wasn't for me. If you're a Blind Owl fan/obsessive, you might care, but there isn't enough story to sustain the casual reader.

[Stephen]

I think the book could have been thicker and in many parts lacks in musical detail. I have also spotted grammar mistakes. It would have been interesting if Davis could have got more people to interview for instance The Blind Owl's shrink or more family members. I don't know if Rebecca Davis is qualified enough to write a book as she has no real connections to Alan's life, nevertheless I am glad the book is out there and I have read it, it was very interesting and a great final tribute to, as one person once put, arguably the greatest white blues musician who ever lived.

[jboyg]

Nice Bio of Canned Heat's Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson

Interesting and informative story of blues scholar\musician Alan Wilson. A founding member of Canned Heat and composer\performer of the group's.two huge hits: G0ING UP THE COUNTRY and ON THE ROAD AGAIN. HauNted by depression and possibly suffering from asperger syndrome, it's a sad story of a very talented but seemingly doomed bluesman.

[Arvid]

bästa boken l

[Marie Malmborg]

A book about Alan Wilson who was a brilliant musician in The Canned Heat, his tormented personal life, obsessive love of nature, and mysterious death.