Trivia

Wilson was extremely shy and introverted, and its possible he may have been on the autism spectrum.

Wilson wrote the Canned Heat song "Poor Moon" about his opposition to the 1969 moon landing, fearing humans would destroy and pollute the Moon as they had done to Earth.

Wilson was a genius musically and intellectually. He was a recipient of the National Merit Scholarship from Arlington High School.

Wrote and sang Canned Heat's 2 biggest hits, "Going Up the Country," which became the theme of the Woodstock festival, and "On the Road Again.".

Wilson loved trees and plants, and would read botany books like encyclopedias. He stated in an interview with Phil Spiro that if he wasn't a musician he would want to be a botany professor.

Blues guitarist John Fahey gave Wilson the nickname "Blind Owl." Wilson was extremely near sided and forgot his glasses on their trip to California. Canned Heat drummer Fito de la Parra claims Wilson put his guitar down in a wedding cake once, thinking it was a table.

Guitarist, harmonica-player, vocalist, and co-leader of Canned Heat with Bob Hite .

Member of the Arlington High School Hall of Fame, which includes Olympia Dukakis and two navigators for the famous Dolittle raids on Tokyo during WWII.

Wilson's favorite tree was the giant coast redwood, Sequoia sempervirens.

In 1964, 21 year old Wilson retaught elderly blues artist Son House how to play his own music.

Cremated and ashes were scattered in Sequoia National Park among the redwoods he loved.

Blues legend John Lee Hooker once stated that he thought Alan Wilson was "the best harmonica player ever.".

Before joining Canned Heat, Wilson gave harmonica lessons and was a bricklayer.

With Canned Heat, Wilson performed at 2 of the most prominent concerts in history, The Monterey Pop Festival, and Woodstock Music and Arts Festival.

Wilson's distinctive high tenor voice was emulated from Blues singer Skip James.

Did not like sleeping in beds, and preferred to sleep outside in a sleeping bag to be with nature.

Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame on July 19, 2013.

Alan Wilson died on Sept. 3, 1970 of an accidental barbiturate overdose in his sleep. He was found in singer Bob Hite's backyard in his sleeping bag.

Favorite singers were Robert Pete Williams and Charlie Patton.

Wilson was an environmentalist, and in 1970 established a conservation fund to save the California redwoods. His essay "Grim Harvest" expressed his concern over deforestation and was featured in Canned Heat's 1970 album Future Blues.

Was a member of the Chess Club and tennis team in high school.

Became a Blues fan and began collecting Blues LPs as a teenager after hearing the Best of Muddy Waters LP.

Played trombone in his high school dance and marching band.

Died at 27 years old, making him a member of the "27 Club"; The 27 Club is a group of prominent musicians who died at the age of 27. Other members include Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones, guitarist Jimi Hendrix, singer Janis Joplin, The Doors frontman Jim Morrison and Amy Winehouse.