Eden Abez, a nomad poet and songwriter, writes a tune for Nat King Cole in 1947, after falling in love with a woman named Anna Jacobs. Nat records the song and the rest they say is history. Although Legend has it Eden hid the cheque under the Hollywood sign...and to this day, it has never been found.
2 Reviews
Just correcting a few facts about eden ahbez / ahbe
youngbear-130-84872311 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The correct spelling of "eden ahbez" is sans capitals.
I was a close friend of ahbe's (eden ahbez/Nature Boy) for seventeen years until his death. I just want to say a couple of things (there is a lot I could say but it wouldn't bring ahbe back, and it wouldn't change your feelings as a viewer about the film) for the sake of accuracy.
First, 'Nature Boy' was not written about the group that ahbe lived with for some time - the Nature Boys. Nor was it written about his friend and my quick acquaintance(Sp.?), Robert "Gypsy Boots" Bootzin. It was an autobiographical piece about ahbe's life as a young man, who hit the road at the age of thirteen and crossed the United States on foot numerous times meeting many people from all walks of life.
Second, 'Nature Boy' was not written for Nat Cole. The performer/musician it was written for turned it down because he didn't care for trying out original material. However, Nat Cole was in town and rehearsing down the street at another theater, and the first performer suggested that ahbe try Nat Cole with the song because Mr. Cole had a reputation for being interested in new original material.
Last, among other places, ahbe did live for a time underneath the Hollywood sign, however, he did not bury any check for any amount of money under the sign - that is a writer's dream, and his right to take liberties with dramatic material. Ahbe's life, all of its own, was an amazing story on multiple levels. This is not the time or place to go into it.
Youngbear Roth (Friend me on Facebook!)
I was a close friend of ahbe's (eden ahbez/Nature Boy) for seventeen years until his death. I just want to say a couple of things (there is a lot I could say but it wouldn't bring ahbe back, and it wouldn't change your feelings as a viewer about the film) for the sake of accuracy.
First, 'Nature Boy' was not written about the group that ahbe lived with for some time - the Nature Boys. Nor was it written about his friend and my quick acquaintance(Sp.?), Robert "Gypsy Boots" Bootzin. It was an autobiographical piece about ahbe's life as a young man, who hit the road at the age of thirteen and crossed the United States on foot numerous times meeting many people from all walks of life.
Second, 'Nature Boy' was not written for Nat Cole. The performer/musician it was written for turned it down because he didn't care for trying out original material. However, Nat Cole was in town and rehearsing down the street at another theater, and the first performer suggested that ahbe try Nat Cole with the song because Mr. Cole had a reputation for being interested in new original material.
Last, among other places, ahbe did live for a time underneath the Hollywood sign, however, he did not bury any check for any amount of money under the sign - that is a writer's dream, and his right to take liberties with dramatic material. Ahbe's life, all of its own, was an amazing story on multiple levels. This is not the time or place to go into it.
Youngbear Roth (Friend me on Facebook!)
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