Presenting the Godfather of Exotica...

Ladies and Gentlemen - Korla Pandit! In this wonderful clip from deep inside the exotica vault, Korla plays the mysterious Greek rebetiko folk song "Miserlou"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ytSC8rz84

And for those of you who are not yet fans of Korla (I doubt there are many amongst these ranks), here is a great bio of the Great Pandit!

http://www.korlapandit.com/biography.htm

This is actually a link to his official web page. Enjoy!

[ Edited by: Vince Martini 2010-05-10 15:01 ]

Korla Pandit, Juan Rolando or John Roland Redd kicks major Tiki butt!! :)

His real life biography is extremely interesting... http://www.korlapandit.com/historyparttwo.htm

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

[ Edited by: Jeff Central 2010-05-11 08:21 ]

On 2010-05-11 08:18, Jeff Central wrote:
Korla Pandit, Juan Rolando or John Roland Redd kicks major Tiki butt!! :)

His real life biography is extremely interesting... http://www.korlapandit.com/historyparttwo.htm

Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff

[ Edited by: Jeff Central 2010-05-11 08:21 ]

Extremely...

A friend wrote to me and said, the air of mystery surrounding Korla Pundit is alas lost...he is from Missouri. I beg to differ. Given his bread-basket origins only lends more to the mystery of what motivated the exotic creative impulses from within. The guy is a total gas...a visionary, I say!

My brother informed me that Korla Pandit can be seen playing the organ in the movie "Ed Wood."

On 2010-05-13 22:48, Tiki Mantis wrote:
My brother informed me that Korla Pandit can be seen playing the organ in the movie "Ed Wood."

Indeed. IN fact, watch the clips from Ed Wood then go back and watch some of the older clips of Korla in action. He parodies himself rather nicely. I jest. It is just like the Korla of old.

This just in:

KORLA

A NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE LEGENDARY 1950s' LOS ANGELES TELEVISION AND MUSIC CULT STAR KORLA PANDIT PREMIERS APRIL 29th AT THE NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL

"He's a person who is forever stepping out of time. Time and gravity don't mess with him. He's one of the immortals."
-Carlos Santana

PRESS RELEASE

A documentary that reveals the true story behind one of Los Angeles' most mysterious and intriguing music and television pioneers is having its American premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival. “Korla” will screen on Wednesday, April 29th at 12:30pm at the Island Cinemas at Fashion Island, 327 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, California.

Known throughout Southern California, Korla Pandit’s career was rich, tragic and multi faceted. He is best remembered as a television pioneer, appearing in a daily live 15 minute all music program for KTLA that premiered in 1949. Amazingly, over the shows 900 episodes, he didn't speak a single word, yet captivated his daytime audience of housewives with his hypnotic gaze and his theatrical performances of popular tunes and East Indian compositions, played on the newly developed Hammond B3 organ. In the 90's, emerging as a cult figure and known as the godfather of exotica music, Korla began playing at clubs populated by the Los Angeles tiki lounge loving hipsters scene. His new found celebrity landed him a cameo in Tim Burton’s homage to 50’s low budget films, "Ed Wood."

In Hollywood there are many secrets, but only a few lasted a lifetime - now, Korla's can be revealed.

View the trailer at:
http://newportbeach.festivalgenius.com/2015/films/korla_johnturner_newportbeach2015.