Robbie Basho

Steel-string guitarist, singer, and composer Robbie Basho was an enigma. Dubbed by fans the "Father of American Raga," he classified his music as "Zen Buddhist cowboy songs." Easily as proficient on 12-string guitar as on six-string, his playing and singing were deeply influenced by and reflective of East Indian, Asian, and 20th century classical musics, harmonic and dissonant improvisation, Persian modalism, Native American chants, and modal blues. A member of Takoma Records' "Big Three" with John Fahey and Leo Kottke, Basho was easily the most challenging to listen to and ea...