Bob “The Bear” Hite

Bob “The Bear” Hite
Known as “The Bear” for his 300 pound plus frame, Bob “The Bear” Hite shared vocal duties with Alan Wilson of “Canned Heat”. Bob and Alan Wilson started the band in 1965. Both avid blues collectors their contrasting styles made “Canned Heat” a double-edged sword. Bob churning out the gruff gravel voiced blues rockers and Alan’s falsetto churning out harmonica-laced delicate blues. After the death of Wilson, Bob tried to keep the band together but posthumous Wilson releases failed to sell. Thru out the 70’s “The Bear” kept various incarnations of the band together and toured the blues circuit to make a buck. By the early 80’s Bob was a broken and bitter man and was heavily involved in drugs. On April 5th of 1981 after doing a gig in Venice Beach, California he suffered a drug and alcohol induced heart attack and died at the age of 36.