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Canned Heat rose to fame because their knowledge and love of blues music was both
wide and deep. Emerging in 1966, Canned Heat was founded by blues historians and
record collectors Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson and Bob “The Bear” Hite. Drawing on an
encyclopedic knowledge of all phases of the genre, the group specialized in updating
obscure old blues recordings. Applying this bold approach, the band attained two
worldwide hits, “On The Road Again” in 1968 and “Going Up The Country” in 1969.
These were inspired interpretations of the late 1920s blues recordings by Floyd Jones and
Henry Thomas.
Canned Heat gained international attention and secured their niche in the pages of rock ‘n
roll history with their performances at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival (along with Jimi
Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Who) and the headlining slot at the original Woodstock
Festival in 1969. Alan Wilson was already renowned for his distinctive harmonica work
when he accompanied veteran bluesman, Son House, on his rediscovery album, “Father
of the Delta Blues.” Hite took the name Canned Heat from a 1928 recording by Tommy
Johnson. They were joined by Henry “The Sunflower” Vestine, another ardent record
collector and former member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, capable of
fretboard fireworks at a moment’s notice. Rounding out the band in 1967 were Larry
“The Mole” Taylor on bass, an experienced session musician who had played with Jerry
Lee Lewis and The Monkees and Adolfo “Fito” de la Parra on drums who had played in
two of the biggest Latin American bands, Los Sinners and Los Hooligans and then with
The Platters, The Shirelles, T-Bone Walker and Etta James.
Canned Heat’s unique blend of modern electric blues, rock and boogie has earned them a
loyal following and influenced many aspiring guitarists and bands during the past four
decades. Their Top-40 country-blues-rock songs, “On The Road Again,” “Let’s Work
Together,” and “Going Up The Country,” became rock anthems throughout the world
with the latter being adopted as the unofficial theme song for the film Woodstock. Their
cover version of Wilbert Harrison’s “Let’s Work Together” was actually their biggest hit
as it rose to #1 in 31 different countries around the world.
Much of Canned Heat’s legacy stems from these three, classic, early recordings, which
featured two unique talents, both of whom died young: Alan Wilson (b. July 4, 1943,
Boston, Massachusetts; d. September 3, 1970, Topanga, California), a gifted slide
guitarist, harmonica player, songwriter and vocalist with a high tenor reminiscent of
blues great Skip James; and Bob Hite (b. February 26, 1945, Torrance, California; d.
April 6, 1981, Venice, California), a blues shouter whose massive physique earned him
the nickname “The Bear.” His size was matched only by his equally massive knowledge
of blues music.