‘Nature Boy’ is one of my favorite songs, not only in jazz but in general. One of the most beautiful tunes was written by eden ahbez (his name is written without capital letters} in 1947. The lyrics are autobiographical, reflecting eden’s life, which consisted of travelling in sandals, wearing shoulder-length hair and beard, and white robes. He lived outdoors with his family, camping below the first L in the Hollywood Sign above Los Angeles. He studied Oriental mysticism and was a vegan, which was very rare in those times. Because of his lifestyle, eden ahbez is considered a proto-hippie and had a major influence on the movement in the sixties.
The song was first recorded by American jazz singer Nat King Cole, released on March 29, 1948, as a single by Capitol Records. It later appeared on the album, The Nat King Cole Story. ‘Nature Boy’ became an instant pop and jazz hit, not only with Cole’s version, but with versions by Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and others as well.
This video was made by Ros Lukman, and it’s an amateur video, created as a tribute to the song. It is based on the book “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, for which some say that it was the main inspiration for ahbez to write the song. Enjoy!
