Gene Deitch

[sheldonm]

There was conversation on this BB some months ago about Cartoonist/Author Gene Deitch. I wanted to share a piece of art he made for me about a year ago. I contacted him a couple years ago and traded correspondences with him for awhile, very nice and funny man! He has a great coffee table book out called "Cat on a Hot Thin Groove", which shows all the "Record Changer" magazine covers and cartoons that he drew for them and some amusing stories.

I asked him if he would draw a cartoon using his original "cat" character photographing a jazz musician. I am a photographr and photograph about 100 shows per year, so I thought it would be something pretty cool! I was shocked when he agreed to do it, as he's reached 80th year.

Mark

Edited December 1, 2004 by sheldonm

[sheldonm]

Here's the cover of his book!

[Jazzmoose]

Cool 'toon!

[paul secor]

Just a side note - Gene Deitch recorded John Lee Hooker in 1949 playing acoustic guitar in Deitch's living room. The recordings feature Hooker performing some unusual material - spirituals, traditional songs that he learned and played before he was a professional musician, and even Cecil Gant's r&b hit, "I Wonder".

It's fascinating to hear John Lee Hooker in 1949 playing in a non-commercial environment. The music is pure Hooker - not "folk music" - even though he's playing an acoustic instrument. Recommended listening.

Flyright first released these recordings in 2000, and Eagle rereleased them this year.

[BruceH]

Gene's son, Kim Deitch, is also a very good cartoonist.