Korla and Lonnie: Men with Turbans

Heres a toast to two of the legends of the Hammond Organ. Besides being innovative musicians with fantastic technique, they shared a deeply spiritual demeanor. And they were mostly self-invented. Not that there's anything wrong with that; it is a common thread throughout our cultural history, from Mark Twain to Madonna. You are who you say you are, and who's to argue? Being outrageous never hurts, either.

Our first case is a classic example of the American way of transforming yourself into something totally new, and making a career at it. Korla Pandit was a fascinating musician and entertainer. He suddenly appeared on American TV in the early fifties, and became an overnight success. He didn't speak, just stared into the camera and played dreamy music. There was something special about this exotic little man who was supposed to have descended from Indian princes and mystics.

The truth, however, was a little less exotic. He was actually born in St. Louis, from a mixed race couple. The whole personna, right down to the turban with the Daddy Warbucks class jewel, was right out of Central Casting. He got a fifteen minute daily show on a pioneering Los Angeles TV station, with the proviso he would also supply the background music for former Looney Toons animator Bob Clampett's live puppet show, Beany and Cecil. He was eventually bumped by Liberace, and went on to a long career as an organist and entertainer, even playing himself in a cameo in Tim Burton's Ed Wood. He records are prived by devotes of space-age lounge music, and has been called the Godfather of Exotica. He was known mainly as an organist, but also incorporated piano and even Novachord into his work.

Clips:

• TV show intro (KGO)
• Ed Wood clip
• Kumar

Our second case is still very much active, and is considered one of the two or three greatest jazz organists today: Dr. Lonnie Smith. He is an acknowledged master of the B-3 and has had a long and distinguished career as both ensemble player and soloist.

So what ties these two artists together? In case you haven't noticed, it's the turban. It's one of the many mysteries of this enigmatic player. Some say it he wears it because he embraced Sikhism many years ago, others claim it was simply to add to his spiritual image. He does seem to have some influence from Korla Pandit, both in his blurry background, and the truly spiritual feel to his music. And the "Doctor" part? One story is it was a nickname given to him by other musicians, who respected his way to doctor up an otherwise bland recording. He has been quoted as saying he calls himself a doctor for the same reason he wears a turban; a self-referential tale that adds to his mystique.

Clips:

• crazy solo
• live, Zurich
• organ summit

I mean no disrespect, but am fascinated by the common thread of the turban between these two masters. I'd start wearing one immediately if if could bring my playing to a tenth of the level they have. Perhaps wearing a fez wasn't such a good idea?

They have something else in common; besides being true originals in music style and having the highest quality technique, they are also great entertainers. One view among musicians is that there are the artists who play for themselves and for their art, and the entertainers who are found in places like Las Vegas lounges and to whom the music is secondary to putting on a good show. I don't buy this in most cases, because all musicians have a inner need to do both. You can't put on a good show if you don't have the chops, and you need interaction with an audience to grow as an artist. You can't stay in the ivory tower and hope to evolve.

Of course some players succeed better than others. What our two organists have in common is that they were able to invent a personna that distinguished them, a sort of visual branding. By adding the depth of mystery and spirituality, they could also serve as channels to their listeners, allowing them to to transcend the mundane and explore new places by listening to the music while at a certain comfort level from the familiarity with the artist.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into this, and it's just a couple of guys with funny hats. But it helps if you're also a gifted and original creator of interesting music who truly love to play for others.