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December 29, 2011 5:48 AM

In 1993 in Dharamsala I met for the first time that amazing music performer, perhaps he was a Rajhastan gypsy. Usually he sat on road side from McLeod Ganch to Dhalai Lama residence. This man-orchestra created great atmosphere, sometimes he sang from eternity even didn't notice listeners. In 2004 I came to Dharamsala and people told me that he passed away. This video is dedicated to him and to people who knew him.
posted by flapjax at midnite (7 comments total)

Meanwhile, in Havana...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:59 AM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]

And that man's name...


...was Mr. Bojangles.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:09 AM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]

In a NY subway he would be quickly passed by. And rightfully so.
posted by Postroad at 6:46 AM on December 29, 2011

In a NY subway he would be quickly passed by. And rightfully so.

I lived for 11 years in NY, and was on the subway thousands of times. I wouldn't have passed him by. I'd have stopped and listened, and dropped some change into his hat.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:59 AM on December 29, 2011 [2 favorites]

I love the drone-rhythm he has going on. The song doesn't sound Rajasthani though, and the puppets don't look Rajasthani either - you do see singing puppeteers quite frequently in Rajasthani folk theatre, but these ones aren't dressed in the typical (and usually more colourful) style. They look dressed as paharis, based on their headscarves. I'm assuming the song is pahari too.
posted by vanar sena at 7:10 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]

Ah, I remember him when I was there from 1991-1992. Wild to hear those sounds again and remember Dharamsala.

And I won't forget the Leper band that paraded through town one day. Only in India do you see and hear a marching band with musicians missing various fingers and other appendages, playing their hearts out. And no, I didn't have a video at the time, only B/W still camera.
posted by songdogtech at 8:10 AM on December 29, 2011

Great. That song will be stuck in my head all day now. Thanks.
posted by JeffK at 11:28 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]