10 Facts About Eden ahbez

Eden ahbez camped out below the first L in the Hollywood Sign above Los Angeles and studied Asian mysticism.

Eden ahbez slept outdoors with his family and ate vegetables, fruit, and nuts.

Eden ahbez spent his early years in the Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York.

Eden ahbez then traveled in an orphan train, was adopted in 1917 by a family in Chanute, Kansas, and raised under the name George McGrew.

In 1947, Eden ahbez approached Nat "King" Cole's manager backstage at the Lincoln Theater in Los Angeles and handed him the music for his song, "Nature Boy".

Jack Patton, in turn, is said to have advised Eden ahbez to bring "Nature Boy" to Capitol after befriending him at the restaurant where Eden ahbez worked.

Eden ahbez worked closely with jazz musician Herb Jeffries, and, in 1954, the pair collaborated on an album, The Singing Prophet, which included the only recording of Ahbez's four-part "Nature Boy Suite".

Eden ahbez often performed bongo, flute, and poetry gigs at beat coffeehouses in the Los Angeles area.

Grace Slick's band the Great Society recorded a version of "Nature Boy" in 1966 and Eden ahbez was photographed in the studio with Brian Wilson during a session for the Smile album in early 1967.

The master tapes, photos, and final works of Eden ahbez are in Romersa's possession.