Help Us Bring Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson’s Unfinished Music Back to Life
Sterno is a Canned Heat tribute band founded in 2025 by Jimmy Palafox, noted Canned Heat historian and protégé of original drummer Fito de la Parra. This project was created not only to celebrate Canned Heat’s unforgettable sound, but to honor the band’s late great visionaries Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson and Bob “The Bear” Hite, Henry ”Sunflower” Vestine, Larry ”The Mole” Taylor, along with the many musicians who shaped its storied history.
Our Mission
In 2026, Sterno will record a landmark album dedicated to bringing unfinished Alan Wilson songs to life—works he never had the chance to fully complete before his passing in 1970. Today, some of these pieces survive only as demos recorded during the summer of 1970, including recordings made while Alan was in the hospital. These recordings are not just songs; they are pieces of history, fragments of a voice that shaped the blues revival and inspired countless musicians.
Our goal is to respectfully reconstruct, rework and record these songs, preserving their spirit while allowing them to finally be heard in a complete form.
Why We Need Your Help
Recording an album at the level this music deserves requires professional studio time, mixing, mastering, musicians, and production costs.
Your donation will help us:
• Record and produce the album
• Pay musicians, engineers, and studio costs
• Press and distribute the finished record
• Preserve and share this music with future generations
Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to completing music that history left unfinished.
Who We Are
Jimmy Palafox – Drums
Fiona “Mariposa” Conners – Vocals
Robert Dewan – Guitar & Vocals
Edward Dick – Bass
Paul Johnson – Harmonica
With Jimmy Palafox’s vision, the mentorship of Fito de la Parra, and a deep commitment to both the boogie and the blues, Sterno is working to ensure that this music is not only remembered—but reborn.
See and Hear Us
Watch our video here:
Thank you for helping us carry this music forward and giving a new voice to songs that almost disappeared with time.