Nature Calls!

Of the many intriguing tales that are floating around out there in the land of music – this one – the story of George McGrew is right up there at the top!

“McGrew” was born George Alexander Aberle on April 15th in 1908 in Brooklyn, New York to a Jewish couple who apparently placed him and all of his siblings (there may have been 11) into the custody of a New York orphanage where he resided until he was about nine years old. Then, George was adopted by a family from the town of Chanute, Kansas.

Little is known of that family – likely the “McGrew” family, giving George his new name. In later times, when he would be interviewed, he was very evasive about discussing anything related to his growing up years.

George & Family – Kansas – Year Unknown

By the time McGrew was in his very early 20’s, he had moved to Kansas City and became immersed in the music scene serving as a piano player and eventually leading a band of his own. His next move would come around 1940 when he would migrate to Southern California. The life of George McGrew would then take a dramatic turn!

George would secure employment in a small restaurant in the Laurel Canyon. The restaurant owners were John and Vera Richter. They were both involved in a ‘back to nature’ movement as well subscribing to a German philosophy called Wandervogel. That was another ‘back to nature’ movement based in late 19th Century Germany.

It was a protest against German industrialization by youth who spent time in the forests, hiking and communing with nature. The adherents to this movement grew long hair, wore boots, grew beards and ate nuts and vegetables. They would become known in Germany as ‘nature boys’ and at their height they were 80,000 strong. Eventually the Nazi Party would ban – not only the Wandervogel – but all scouting and youth groups who weren’t aligned with the “Hitler Youth”.

Germany’s Original “Nature Boys” (not Brown Shirts!!!)

The Richter’s were also vegetarians – and all these aspects of their lives profoundly impacted George who next assumed a new identity, becoming “Eden Ahbez” – always spelling it with lower case letters – feeling that only God warranted capitalization.

Eden Ahbez was well ahead of his time, many crediting him as being a considerable influence on the ‘hippie movement’ in the 60’s which was well-anchored in California as well.

Eden wasn’t alone as a ‘nature boy’ – Many others would migrate to California in the 1940’s and often congregate together – sometimes with the Richter’s at their nature store – to practice their unencumbered life style. Among their ranks beyond Eden were Gypsy Jean, Bill Pester Maximilian Sikinger, Bob Wallace, Emile Zimmerman, Gypsy Boots, Buddy Rose, Fred Bushnoff and others names lost to time.

The Nature Boys – California 1940’s – Watermelon for All

All Natural: Maxmillian Sikinger in Santa Monica Mountains

Of those ‘nature boys’ – one in particular stood out – that being Robert Bootzin who would come to be known as “Gypsy Boots”. He was flamboyant and personable character – very true to his healthy and wholesome lifestyle, no drinking – no drugs – no meat – He was born in 1914 in San Francisco and would eventually ‘bridge the gap’ between the nature boys – the beatniks and the flower children of the 1960’s.

A Nature Boy Influenced Sketch from 1934 – Look Close – a Small Peace Symbol Resides at the Top

Gypsy – like – Eden Ahbez – found his way into the recording studio recording on Sidewalk Records. He appeared on many television programs and made 25 appearances on the Steve Allen Show – He performed at the Newport Pop Festival. He coined the term “smoothie” while appearing on Steve Allen’s show.

Gypy Ponders Newport Pop Festival Art Musician Lineup

As a ‘nature boy’, Eden dramatically changed his persona, donning sandals and white robes, growing shoulder length hair far before it was in vogue, and according to accounts, took to walking across the country apparently often – as he told others he had crossed back and forth – coast-to-coast, eight times according to some – four times according to others.

Back in California, Ahbez resided on beaches, lived in a cardboard box, took up residence at times in the back yards of friends, and most notably, set up camp beneath the famous Hollywood sign overlooking the city of Angels.

Eden was focused on his natural life style in California but had not relinquished his love of music and poetry which were interchangeable for him. He had composed a song/poem that he felt warranted consideration to be recorded.

Details of how he managed to get his song noticed are a bit fuzzy but in a nutshell he found his was to downtown where he would park himself outside the Lincoln Theater until a talent manager, Mort Ruby emerged. Eden quickly approached him – holding out a crumpled up piece of paper containing the lyrics to his song.

Eden was rather insistent that Ruby take the song with him and show it to one of his clients. Ruby reluctantly complied – but neither he, his client, or their record label could decide what to do with the strange set of of lyrics and tune. So they simply did nothing for some time.

Lincoln Theater – Los Angeles

Ruby and his singer reluctantly decided to give the song a whirl but realized they hadn’t secured any rights from Eden. Ruby scoured the area and finally located Ahbez to take care of business. Reportedly, Ruby located Ahbez in his familiar spot under the Hollywood sign!

Finally, after many months, they managed to take the song into the recording studio and lay down the track – altering it a bit in tempo, etc. This was August of 1947. The final product was relegated to a “b” side of the 45 which was released in March of 1948.

The ‘a” side, “Lost April”, didn’t attract the attention of the nation’s DJ’s but a New York City jock turned the record over and gave it a spin. The phone bank lit up!

Not only did Eden have himself a hit song – he had a monster hit song – as did Nat “King” Cole. “Nature Boy” raced to the top of the charts holding the number 1 spot for eight straight weeks and becoming Capitol Record’s biggest selling record at the time and holding the honor for some time!

Ahbez and Cole

There’s a lot more to the story of Eden Ahbez – George McGrew – Just search the internet. He was quite a character. He would pen more songs/poems and even enter the recording studio himself to record. But nothing would approach the huge success of “Nature Boy”.

Several others would immediately cover the song. Renditions by other musicians would also chart including Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes and Sarah Vaughan in the 1940’s.

Sinatra with the Nature Boy

Bobby Darin would take the song to number 40 in 1960. Red Ingle and his Natural Seven would would record a parody of the song titled “Serutan Yob (A Song For Backward Boys and Girls Under 40)” which went to number 12 in 1948. Ingle was a one-time member of the Spike Jones band who didn’t take anything seriously.

Eden’s Fans

Eden Ahbez would marry Annette Jacobson, a girl he was instantly fascinated with when he saw her get off a metro bus in L.A. – so much so that he passed her a note in order to meet her. She was a kindred spirit – a vegetarian also – and the two would soon marry and have one son – Zoma.

Eden – Zoma – Annette

For all the mystical aspects of Eden’s lifestyle, surprisingly he took a shot at creating some songs for the world of ‘pop’ or rock – composing a couple of surfing songs, another titled “Elvis Presley Blues” .

Eden Ahbez in Life Magazine – June 28th, 1948

Tragedy would follow Eden and his family. His son Zoma would drown in 1971 – He was 22. Annette passed away in August of 1963 a victim of Leukemia.

The Natural Life

By the early 1970’s – now without his son and wife – Eden would begin living in the community of Sunland, California and would form his own record label – “Sunland Records”. Eden would record for his label as “Eden Abba” but I have not been able to locate any pressings from that label.

At the age of 86, Eden was involved in a car accident in Sky Valley, California on March 4th, 1995 which took his life.

Words From Eden:

Eden was stopped one time by a police office in L.A. and he told the officer: “I look crazy but I’m not. And the funny thing is that other people don’t look crazy but they are.” To which the office replied after thinking it over “You know, bud, you’re right.” And then added, “If anyone ever gives you any trouble, just let me know.”

And then one time he was asked about racism in America to which he replied: “There are white people who hate black people – There are white people who love black people – There are black people who hate white people – There are black people who love white people – and so we have haters and lovers…which one are we?

Edan Ahbez Composing/Recording Discography

Many, many musicians would record Eden’s “Nature Boy” over the years – many more than represented here. Eden was far from a ‘one-song’ composer as the listing below attests to.

78 – Nat “King” Cole – Capitol – Nature Boy – Number 1 Eight Weeks Pop Charts – April, 1948

78 – Frank Sinatra – Columbia – Nature Boy – Number 7- May, 1948

78 – Dick Haymes & the Song Spinners – Decca – Nature Boy – Number 11 Pop Charts – June, 1948

78 – Sarah Vaughan – Musicraft – Nature Boy – Number 9 – July, 1948

This was Sarah’s first charting single

78 – Red Ingle and the Natural Seven – Serutan Yob (A Song For Backward Boys and Girls Under 40) – Number 12 Pop Charts – October, 1948

78 – Ink Spots – Decca – Land Of Love (Come My Love and Live With Me) – September, 1949

78 – The Nature Boy Orchestra with Eden Ahbez and Bobby Please – End Of Desire b/w California – 1950

45 – John Laurenz – Mercury – Nature Boy – 1950

45 – Hoagy Carmichael and Gordon Jenkins – Decca – Sacramento – 1951

45 – Frankie Laine – Mercury – The Jalopy Song – 1951

78 – Jack Powers – Lotus Records – End Of Desire b/w Gittar-Totin’ Cowboy – 1951

45 – Vicki Young – Capitol – Let Me Hear You Say (I Love You) – May, 1953

45 – Shirley Bates – Fabor – Carlos Ybarra – April, 1954

78 – Jack “Huck” Patton – Gold Tone – Guitar Totin’ Cowboy – 1954

45 – Eartha Kitt – RCA Victor – Hey Jacque – November, 1954

45 – The Carsons – Kem Records – Wine, Women & Gold – April, 1955

45 – The Crew-Cuts – Mercury – Song of the Fool – August, 1955

45 – Herb Jeffries with Dick Hazard’s Orchestra – Olympic Records – Oh My Brothers – 1956

45 – Kay Brown – Sunset Records – Run-Away-Boy b/w Teenage Love – 1956

45 – Annita Ray & the Nature Boys – Dream – Frankie’s Song b/w Elvis Presley Blues – June, 1957

Annita Ray was a member of the duo, “Diane (Hall) and Annita” – They also performed as another duo “The Bookends”

45 – Don Reed – Encino Records – Two Shades Of Blue – 1957

45 – Sam Cooke – Keen Records – Lonely Island – Number 10 R&B – Number 26 Hot 100 – March, 1958

45 – Marti Barris – Keen Records – Ahbe Casabe – June, 1958

Marti Barris was the granddaughter of band leader Paul Whiteman from Colorado. She played the character “Peppi Mint” on the Howdy Doody Show.

Marti as “Peppi Mint”

45 – Biggie McFadden – Jackpot Records – The Lesson Of Love – August, 1958

45 – Don Carson & the Casuals – Bertram International – Yes Master! b/w Jungle Bungalow – October, 1958

45 – The Shields – Dot Records – Nature Boy – October, 1958

45 – Don Sterling – Corvette Records – Two Shades of Blue – November, 1958

45 – Richard Day and His Music with Joy Callahan – KEM – Teen-Age Love – 1958

Couldn’t find a single thing on this one!

45 – Rocky Holman (Mort Wise and the Wiseman) – Sierra Records – Wild Man – June, 1959

Rocky was a member of the Wilsations in the 1980’s

45 – Eden Ahbez – Del-Fi – Tobago b/w The Old Boat – December, 1959

45 – Ken Karen – Strand Records – Nature Boy – 1959

45 – Stan Getz and Strings – Verve – Nature Boy – November, 1960

LP – Eden Ahbez – Del-Fi – Eden’s Island (The Music Of An Enchanted Isle) – 1960

45 – Bobby Darin – Atco – Nature Boy – Number 40 Hot 100 – June, 1961

45 – Don Reed & His Friends – A&R Records – Nature Boy b/w The Lonely King Or Rock and Roll – 1961

Reed recorded under multiple names – His birth name was Peter Sterling Radcliffe.

45 – Clete Grayson and the Thurston Trio – Pacific Records – Nature Girl – 1961

45 – Mickey Denton – Bigtop – Nature Boy – January, 1962

Denton was a one-time member of the Casinos

45 – Martha Shanklin – Yankee Doodle Records – The Star Of Love – May, 1962

Martha’s husband Wayne Shanklin composed “The Big Hurt” for Toni Fisher as well as “West of the Wall”- and wrote Jerry Wallace’s “Primrose Lane” and Little Coco Palm” – He wrote “Jezebel” for Frankie Laine, “Chason D’Amour” for Art and Dotty Todd.

45 – Etta Jones – Prestige Records – Nature Boy – February, 1963

45 – John Bean – Reprise Records – Lonely One b/w Mr. K – June, 1963

45 – Sil Austin – Mercury – Nature Boy – February, 1964

45 – Nature Boys & Friends (Eden Ahbez) – Betram International – John John b/w Surfer John – 1964

45 – Charles Poston – Nashville – Nature Boy – 1964

45 – Robie Lester – Chattahoochie – Green Flamingo – May, 1965

Robie appeared in several motion picture including Disney’s “Rescuers” and “The Aristocats” as a singing voice for Eva Gabor She was featured on many Disneyland children’s records. She died in 2005 at age 80

45 – Joe Harnell – Columbia – Nature Boy – November, 1966

45 – Jay and the Americans – United Artists – Nature Boy – March, 1967

45 – Gypsy Boots – Sidewalk – We’re Havin’ A Love In b/w I Feel So Fine – June, 1967

Gypsy Boots was one of Eden’s ‘fellow travelers – one of the “nature boy’s” who congregated in Southern California in the 1940’s around the Richters in Laurel Canyon.

LP – Gypsy Boots and the Nature Boys – Sidewalk – Unpredictable – August, 1967

45 – Ahmad Jamal – Cadet – Ahmad Jamal – August, 1967

45 – Richard Barbary’s Soul Machine – A&M – Nature Boy – July, 1968

45 – Smart and Cole Inc. – Inarts – Nature Boy – July, 1968

45 – Jennie Misty – Break Out Records – Nature Boy – (year unknown)

45 – Ellen Dedrick – Project 3 – Nature Boy – 1969

45 – Ahbe Casabe (Eden Ahbez) – Elefunt – Divine Melody b/w Richard Milhous – November, 1971

45 – Sounds Of Sunshine – Ranwood – Nature Boy – March, 1972

45 – Knarig M. Boyadjian – Aquamarine – Queen Elizabeth It’s Silver Jubilee b/w Salutation – 1977

A curios single – Most likely Eden Ahbez – with a tip of hat to Hungarian activist Hamparsoum Boyadjian from late 1890’s! – Ahbez composed the b side.

45 – Jack Patton – Gold Tone – Nature Girl b/w Jalopy Jack Sings His Bicycle Song – (year unknown)

Just about everything Eden became involved in within the recording studio was strange.

45 – George Benson – Warner Bros. – Nature Boy – October, 1981

45 – Walt Maddox – Super M – Nature Boy – 1984

Maddox was a former member of the Marcels

45 – Natalie Cole – Elektra – Nature Boy – November, 1991

LP CD – Eden Ahbez – Accent – Echoes From Nature Boy – 1995

LP – Eden Ahbez – Hits Of Hollywood Records – The Exotic World Of Eden Ahbez – 2014

LP – Eden Ahbez – Wild Boy – The Lost Songs Of Eden Ahbez -2016

LP – Eden Ahbez – Captain High (Europe_ – Eden’s Island: The Music Of An Enchanted Isle – October, 2017