Alan Wilson (musician)
Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson (
July 4,
1943 â€"
September 3,
1970) was the leader, singer, and primary composer in the
American blues band
Canned Heat. He played guitar and
harmonica and wrote most of the songs for the band. Wilson was born in
Boston, Massachusetts, and died in
Topanga Canyon,
California of a
heroin overdose in an apparent suicide. Autopsy results were inconclusive and he left no suicide note, so questions remain over the circumstances of his death. He performed at two of the greatest concerts of the 60's, The
Monterey Pop Festival in
1967 and
Woodstock in
1969. His unique version of
Falsetto vocal styling made him insantly recognisable amongst other vocalists of the 60's, and thus is clearly heard on the Woodstock movie, which chose Canned heat's "Going up the country" as the unnoficial theme tune to woodstock, probably due to its appropriateness to the location of Woodstock. It is notable that in practically every image available of Blind Owl he is playing a golden
Gibson Les Paul, which was his guitar preference.
Blind Owl performing at Woodstock.*
Petition to get Canned Heat + Country Joe & The Fish into the R&R Hall of Fame*
Alan Wilson site*
Alan Wilson tribute site
