Paul Pena, blues guitarist who mastered Tuvan throat singing

SAN FRANCISCO – Paul Pena, a blues guitarist who wrote one of the biggest hits for the Steve Miller Band, has died.

He was 55. Pena, who is perhaps best known for writing ‘Jet Airliner’, a Top 10 hit in 1977, died from complications of diabetes and pancreatitis.Pena also is familiar to audiences for the 1999 Academy Award-nominated documentary ‘Genghis Blues’, which tells the story of how he took up Tuvan throat singing.Tuva is a region of Siberia.Pena, almost completely blind since birth and plagued by illnesses most of his life, was born in Massachusetts.In the late 1960s, he was in a band that opened for big-time acts including the Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa.Blues artists ranging from T-Bone Walker to BB King to Bonnie Raitt recognised his talents, hiring him to play guitar in their bands.”He’s like having my very own Jimi Hendrix,” Raitt once said.”There’s simply nothing he can’t play well.”In 1971, Pena moved to San Francisco, where he played many gigs, frequently opening for Jerry Garcia’s and Merle Saunders’ bands.Pena became interested in throat singing when he heard a Tuvan broadcast on his shortwave radio in 1984.Later he found a Tuvan record, playing it countless times until he learned how to throat sing, which involves producing several distinct vocal-cord sounds simultaneously.In 1993, he demonstrated his technique to Kongar-ol Ondar, one of the foremost throat singers in the world.Ondar was mightily impressed with Pena, nicknaming him ‘Earthquake’ and inviting him to come to Tuva to participate in the annual competition.Pena’s 1995 journey to Tuva, where he won awards in the contest and charmed locals who were delighted with the foreigner who mastered their art form, is recounted in ‘Genghis Blues’.- Nampa-APPena, who is perhaps best known for writing ‘Jet Airliner’, a Top 10 hit in 1977, died from complications of diabetes and pancreatitis.Pena also is familiar to audiences for the 1999 Academy Award-nominated documentary ‘Genghis Blues’, which tells the story of how he took up Tuvan throat singing.Tuva is a region of Siberia.Pena, almost completely blind since birth and plagued by illnesses most of his life, was born in Massachusetts.In the late 1960s, he was in a band that opened for big-time acts including the Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa.Blues artists ranging from T-Bone Walker to BB King to Bonnie Raitt recognised his talents, hiring him to play guitar in their bands.”He’s like having my very own Jimi Hendrix,” Raitt once said.”There’s simply nothing he can’t play well.”In 1971, Pena moved to San Francisco, where he played many gigs, frequently opening for Jerry Garcia’s and Merle Saunders’ bands.Pena became interested in throat singing when he heard a Tuvan broadcast on his shortwave radio in 1984.Later he found a Tuvan record, playing it countless times until he learned how to throat sing, which involves producing several distinct vocal-cord sounds simultaneously.In 1993, he demonstrated his technique to Kongar-ol Ondar, one of the foremost throat singers in the world.Ondar was mightily impressed with Pena, nicknaming him ‘Earthquake’ and inviting him to come to Tuva to participate in the annual competition.Pena’s 1995 journey to Tuva, where he won awards in the contest and charmed locals who were delighted with the foreigner who mastered their art form, is recounted in ‘Genghis Blues’.- Nampa-AP

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.