GENGHIS BLUES The Story of a Blind

Blues Musicians Triumphant Journey to

the Lost Land of Tuva

Paul Pena played blues with the greats T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, and Bonnie Raitt. In
1995, the blind bluesman became the first American ever to compete in an unusual
contest of multi-harmonic throatsinging.
The Autonomous Republic of Tuva, wedged between Siberia and Mongolia, for centuries
has been isolated from the rest of the world by jagged mountains and Soviet restrictions.
Only recently have the Tuvan art form of throatsinging become known to outsiders.
Pena discovered Tuvan throatsinging on a shortwave program of Radio Moscow twelve
years ago. Multiple voices emanated from a single vocalist and the sounds gripped him
like nothing he had ever heard. For the next nine years he worked to produce similar
overtones with his own voice and to incorporate throatsinging into his blues music.
Unexpectedly in 1993, Pena discovered that Tuvan throatsingers were on their first
concert tour of the U.S.. After their performance, the deep-voiced bluesman broke into his
own self-taught style of throatsinging and serenaded the musicians with Tuvan traditional
songs! The throatsingers were amazed by Penas mastery of the Tuvan art form and
likened his rich voice to the sounds of tremors in the earth. They insisted that
Chershemjer (Earthquake) travel to Tuva for the next tri-ennial throatsinging contest
which would be held in 1995.
Eleven years after he first heard throat singing, Paul Pena entered the National Theatre of
Tuva to make history. The blind blusemans performance was so well received, he became
the 1995 throatsinging champion in the style of kargyraa. He also captured the audience
favorite award for the week-long competition. The Tuvan people had never seen or
heard anyone like him.
Pena was honored by the Tuvan people, not only because he mastered kargyraa, but he
also learned to speak their language. His friendship flourished with Kongar-ol Ondar, the
throatsinging champion who had invited Pena three years earlier. Ondar hosted Pena as
the bluesman experienced the country he once believed he would never visit.
Genghis Blues is a film about exploration and friendship. It is the story of a man whose
struggle in life is not defined by conformity and rules but by an unquenchable curiosity,
and love of music. Penas story is truly an inspiration to all.