Eden Ahbez was an American musician, songwriter, and a prominent figure in the proto-hippie movement, best known for his composition 'Nature Boy'. Born George Alexander Aberle, he adopted a primitivist lifestyle, living outdoors, wearing long hair and a beard, and eating a vegetarian diet long before it became mainstream. His breakthrough came in 1948 when Nat King Cole recorded 'Nature Boy,' turning it into a number one hit and making Ahbez a household name. Throughout his life, he continued to write music and poetry, embodying a philosophy of love, peace, and connection with nature that influenced the later counterculture movement.