My favorite example of an unexpected turban is the one on the head of jazz keyboardist Dr. Lonnie Smith, who bears more than a passing resemblance to my father (even my dad has remarked upon this). [Photo on the top right]
Who is Lonnie Smith?
Dr. Lonnie Smith is internationally known as one of the premier jazz keyboardists in the history of the idiom. A dominant talent and pace-setting proponent of the Hammond B3 Organ and widely recognized and gifted pianist, Lonnie has been at the forefront of the jazz scene since 1969 when he was named Top Organist by Downbeat Magazine. Most recently, Dr. Smith has been awarded the Organ Keyboardist of the Year award in 2003, 2004 and 2005 by the Jazz Journalist Association.
Interestingly, when asked about the turban, he makes reference to Sikhism. He also keeps his hair long and in a top-knot, like Sikh men do. You can see it in the photo quite clearly. It is unclear to me whether he is a convert to Sikhism, however. There’s only one interview I can find where Sikhism is mentioned, and the writer doesn’t pass along any information of use. He certaintly looks like a Sikh, and that’s a very Sikh style of turban, but nobody (not even a friend who is in 3HO) seems to know.
There’s actually quite a tradition of (mainly black) musicians in the 1950s and 1960s wearing turbans. The bottom photo on the left is of a group that even called itself the Turbans:
The Turbans were a Philadelphia based R&B vocal group that had chart success in the mid-50…. the Turbans are credited with performing the first hit record to include the phrase ‘doo-wop’. [cite]
Personally, I’m looking forward to a time when my local racist assholes decide to yell “Lonnie Smith” at me as they drive by, rather than “Osama” or “Saddam” or “Raghead” or “Diaperhead” or “Sand N–er” whatever the f- – – floats into their minds at that moment. Then I’ll know that turbans have really made it. Until such a time, I’ll have to content myself with the fact that Lonnie Smith is one damn fine looking man with his turban and beard, and that the racists here hate me (in part) because I’m beautiful 
.
You can see a whole bunch of photos of Dr. Lonnie Smith, or read an interview with him in Jazz Times Magazine.
Awesome post Ennis. I will have to betake myself to a record shop soon.
Fascinating stuff! I remember coming across pictures of The Turbans before, maybe it was through turbanhead.com.
I have a Stevie Wonder album – called Musiquarium I think (its at my other place) – its a double album with tracks from his greatest LP’s plus a couple of extra new ones released in the late 1980’s – and on the sleeve notes and acknowledgments he thanks “the Sikhs”
Must have been Harbhajan Yogi’s people out in LA, California
Was reading about Korla Pandit from one of your links — “His soulful gaze is said to have drawn housewives into rapturous fantasies. […] Born at a time when a black man in the South could get whipped for making eye contact with a white woman, Korla Pandit was making dreamy eyes at thousands upon thousands of aproned homemakers, stealing into their dens as they heated their fondue pots.”
Black pianist who pretended to be Mexican, then Indian. There’s a movie in there somewhere.
Definitely! So many great stories.
On a desi-influence-on-jazz tip, John Coltrane was about to record an album with Ravi Shankar when he died – and he named his son Ravi in tribute to the main man.
HEard it on a BBC interview about a month ago.
This guy worked with jazz musicians too. Found out about him while googling about Frank Zappa and Indian music a while back.
Ennis, too good man. I love all these links.
(Those aren’t the kind of links you find through just a simple google search for “turbans” and “jazz”… you have to know what you’re looking for)
Proves yet again that Sepia Mutiny brings the ‘value added’ gyaan.
I agree – they have been on top form recently.
Sepia really is tip top. Laddoo and Mr Walker all all round.
Speaking of black musicians wearing turbans, don’t forget about Outkast’s Andre 3000.
or Whitney & Bobby once they get on the Black Israelites tip. One nation under a pug Yer baby !
Did you guys read my post on white sardars ?
Excellent post. We need more music related posts on SM. I confused this guy with the other jazz keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith.
word up yo
There is a black Sikh living in my neihbourhood. He converted. Infact I’m even ashamed to say anything to him, since I have my hair cut.
In Kenya one of my Kenyan friend could read 5 porih the paath. while I can only read one 🙁
Despite the Yogi Bhajan funny business, I find the 3HO Sikhs to be extremely genuine and honest in their spiritual practice.
The 3HO gurdwara on Preuss Rd/S. Robertson Blvd in LA has some of the most beautiful Sikh art – and I’ve actually felt spiritually moved (this is very unusual for me) while worshipping there. There’s just this magical aura about the sangat – very multicultural (white, black, mexican, east asian, south asian) and extremely loving. The ardas was in Spanish when I last visited!
Langar is also open to the outside community – not just a bunch of fat punjabis stuffing their faces while socializing.
The Civil War-related post below reminds me of another American turban fad… although this one was inspired by North Africa, not South Asia…
http://www.nps.gov/anti/zouaves.htm http://www.sussex.edu/newsandevents/2004/images/9-721.jpg
I’m not trying to deny the Sikh-connection when I say this, but: turbans and African-Americans, this goes back to slave-days, or at least that’s where it began (there’s the “mammy”-figure, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is full of turban-references, etc)… Post-civil rights, a lot of movements adopted it as Afro-centric fashion and the offspring of that is still alive (I think someone already mentioned Erykah Badu)… The guy’s got a serious pug, that’s for sure, and it gets its style and set-up from Sikhism, but I don’t think that’s why he’s wearing it (I doubt he’s a Sikh any more than he’s a doctor).
Well, he’s not a doctor for sure. But he does have a jura and an open beard, he’s wearing a Sikh style pug, and he gives credit to Sikhs for the pug.
Is he a Sikh? I dunno, but it’s pretty interesting.
Because Moses wore it. Turbans are a symbol of respect in the Middle East and Sudan. The Erykah Badu thing is drawing on the West African traditional turban. So do you think we could get her and Lonnie Smith to do a guest appearance at the local Gurdwara. Maybe along with Dya Singh
Lynn Hope, a tenor saxophonist in the early 1950s, wore a turban and converted to Islam. He had several hit recordings; including, the songs Tenderly and September Song.
Thanks, KEWms. Here’s a photo of Lynn Hope.
Great Article!! I have a story I would like to share with you all regarding lonnie.
My friend, (who is a serious sikh ) and I went to see Dr lonnie smith. Durring the show my friend says to me ” His turban!! no way!!- he cant be..”. Because I was new to Lonnie at the time, I told my friend that it is probably a part of lonnies act. Durring the entire show, my friend kept his eyes on Lonnie. He was very puzzled and somewhat upset, from what I could tell.
After the performance, we went to meet Dr.Smith and of course, my friend was loaded with questions. Before I could even say anything, my friend, with a smerk on his face, greets lonnie and lonnie responds. Not a big deal, right? It was a big deal actually, because the greeting and response were not in english!! Right away, I knew what my friend was doing and I knew the outcome was going to be ugly, so I left them to be alone and ended up talking to the guitarist.
Nearly a half an hour later, I return to see him and Lonnie smiling and talking ( in english now). I was upset because I really wanted to talk to Dr.Smith more, but I shook his hand and thanked him for the performance.
As we walked off, my friend says “Thank you for dragging me to this performance!” with a bright smile on his face, he continues “You were wrong about the turban…. Its not an act…That man wears his turban for all the right reasons.. Hes in the know” And on the car drive home, he educated me on the differences of the turbans and Lonnies turban which was that of the sikh.
My dear friend was simply enchanted by Dr.Lonnie Smith ( after learning first-hand that he was no phoney) and has become a great fan. Appearently Lonnie is well received far east.
Sorry for eating up space here but upon seeing this post on lonnie ( an already rare bird), I remembered that story and though I’d share it. Thanks!
Laurie
Wow – can you get your friend to comment too? I’d love to hear more.
this is indee dawesome. i’m late to mention it, but yes. very cool. and i’m glad that lonnie is such an awesome guy, i’ll have to check him out.
I was researching DASTAR because it is used to describe a fabric woven in a village near my home here in Turkey. That got me to your web site. Funny thing, I was recently reading about a British hero in music, Lonnie Donnegan who took his name off the good Doctor. Sorry you get shit shouted at you man, that’s like shouting “Hitler” at anyone with a mustache. Funny place Turkey. The Ottermans banned the turban then,later, Kamel Atarturk banned the fez. Jeez, now the French ban headscarfs!
I feel elated after reading this article about Dr. Just amazing…. more when I learn that he is doing it for right reasons.
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh
the only authentic sikh in jazz today is taran singh. and check this out too:jazz poetry improv
taran singh: http://www.tfjh.blogspot.com jazz poetry improv : http://www.jazzpoetrytaran.blogspot.com
I saw Lonnie a couple of nights ago with Fathead Newman, Houston Person, and Lou Donaldson. Incredible show. Afterwards, I asked him about the turban and he made reference to Sikhism and said he’d been wearing it since the 1970s. I also asked him about his bass playing and he said he did most of it by intuition, kicking the pedals whenever he wanted an accent. When I asked him about his favorite new organ players, he said Larry Goldings, Joey, and Tony Monaco. I asked him if he had any pointers for me to improve , and he took his finger and outlined my heart. “It’s all right there…”
The rapper Baatin from the renowned Detroit hip hop group Slum Village wears a turban ALL THE TIME.
Excellent post – very informative, which led on to all sorts of turban fashion related articles. Including hitler in a turban! google it…
I respect my sikhi too much to be moved spiritually by fakes. Bhai Gurpreet shimla wale and Bhai ranjit Singh dhadrianwale move me more than any of those whackjobs. You can act pure as u want n still be a fake. Those ppl put on an act. They do as much Shame with their fake act as if they outright did harrassment to our faith. I’m spiritually moved to vomit each time sum1 falls for the fakes.
As for Lonnie….. He’s cool. Jazz is awesome.