Zamfir, Master of the Magical Pan Flute

Got into a 10-minute time-killing discussion while the computers were down this afternoon about music. The topic of bad, obscure songs came up and I threw out Zamfir's name.
And everyone looked at me like I had two heads.
Surely, I'm not the only one around who remembers the 1980s era, 2:30 a.m. commercials on CNN for the Z-Man's albums. Am I? I couldn't find any of the old clips on You Tube, and I'm starting to wonder if I just dreamed the whole thing.

 

http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hxfexq9gldde
http://www.gheorghe-zamfir.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gheorghe_Zamfir
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wv3Ya9nskA
http://www.nndb.com/people/141/000025066/
http://www.google.com/musica?aid=NynO0ik1WbN&sa=X&oi=music&ct=result

 

I saw most of those clips, but couldn't find anything from his old CNN commercials. That's what I was looking for to prove I wasn't totally insane.

 

Surely, no one, anywhere in the world, at any time, has referred to Zamfir as the Z-man before this post. Not even his friends or his spouse.

And while I can verify the existence of cable TV commercials for Mr. Zamfir, I always preferred the Boxcar Willie ones myself.

 

I see your Boxcar Willie and raise you a Slim Whitman.

 

I remember Zamfir. But if its obscure musical "legends" you're looking for, make haste to Branson Mo.

There you'll see the renowned Shoji Tabuchi, violinist extraordinaire. He makes Yo Yo Ma look like Yo Yo Mama.

 

Remarkably, though, Zamfir (first name, Gheorghe) was used to great effect on the soundtrack of "Once Upon a Time in America."

Wiki also says his music is heard throughout the 1984 film The Karate Kid, and his song "The Lonely Shepherd", penned by James Last and recorded with the James Last Orchestra, is featured in Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill Vol. 1.

Who knew?

 

Ronnie Bartel is upset.

 

I'll see your bet and raise you one Estaban, the QVC guitar god.