The Catcher in the Sand

Bela Kamocsa died last week. He was the founder of the Romanian rock band ‘Phoenix’ in the 60s, at a time when doing rock meant in Romania not only music but also a political stand. The band played an important role in the history of Romania rock.

youTube keeps some of his recordings.

‘Canarul’ from 1969 with Phoenix:

‘Lady Madonna’:

‘Totusi sunt ca voi’

with Bega Blues Band at the Sibiu jazz festival in 2002:

jam sessions with Mircea Bunea in 2008:

and the recording of a TV interview with Daniel Vighi with scores of interesting information about the musical history of Timisoara.

May his memory be blessed.

I have seen tonight a documentary about the life and nusic of John Lee Hooker. He was born i917 and grew near Clarksdale in the Mississippi Delta, the place where the delta blues style originated. As a child he worked with his family of descendants of slaves in the cotton fields

Boogie Chillen in 1948 was one of his first successes

‘Hobo Blues’ is from the start years.

‘Boom, Boom’ is a song from the start of the 60s. Hooker started to build a name for himself as a bluesman. See the foot rhythmic which became a symbol of his innovative approach in these years

‘Tupelo’ is another famous traditional blues of his, about the floods he witnessed as a child in the Mississippi Delta

Hooker inspired a number of beat musicians in the UK, and especially The Animals – here is a song of Hooker played by the British band in 1964.

Here he is with Carlos Santana in the 80s. Santana as many other musicians (Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton) admired him, and invited him to play with them at the pick of their careers.

Finally ‘The Healer’ also with Santana – a song about the magic blues music that heals everything.