Nat King Cole had one of his biggest hits in 1948 with Nature Boy, an enchanting song that became a standard, covered by some of the biggest stars of the era.
It was not the work of a slick Hollywood songwriter. Its author smuggled the music and lyrics in to Nat Cole at one of his shows. That year, he had lived in in a cave under the letter “L” of the Hollywood sign on the hills above Tinseltown.
Eden Ahbez was a recluse, a prototype hippie, 20 years before hair and peace became a global phenomenon.
He wrote hits for other singers, and could have been a big music star in his own write.
But Eden preferred life on the outside.
