Folk Singer Utah Phillips dies- 5/5

The "Golden Voice of the Great Southwest": Legendary Folk Musician, Activist Utah Phillips, 1935-2008

Utah Phillips, the legendary folk musician and peace and labor activist, has died at the age of seventy-three. Over the span of nearly four decades, Utah Phillips worked in what he referred to as "the Trade," performing tirelessly throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. The son of labor organizers, Phillips was a lifelong member of the Industrial Workers of the World, known as the Wobblies. As a teenager, he ran away from home and started living as a hobo who rode the rails and wrote songs about his experiences. In 1956, he joined the Army and served in the Korean War, an experience he would later refer to as the turning point of his life. In 1968, he ran for the US Senate on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket. For the past twenty-one years he lived in Nevada City, where he started a nationally syndicated folk music radio show. He also helped found the Hospitality House homeless shelter and the Peace and Justice Center. We spend the hour with an interview with Phillips from January 2004. [includes rush transcript]

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• utah
• phillips
• folk
• music
• america
• usa
• democracy
• now

[HempLogic]

Utah Phillips your strong clear voice is sorely missed these days!

[mys11]

In this series he talks of staying under the industry's radar, and I guess he did. I've been a fan for years, but only learned of his death today, 2009.04.11. The world is a duller place without him.

*If when we die, we go somewhere

I bet you a dollar he's ramblin' there.*

[TeamCannabis]

Thank You for sharing this, never heard of this gentleman, but now I'll never forget him.

[rtupin1956]

I am so sorry to hear of Utah's death. Just today I discovered him and his work. I have become an instant fan. Thank you so much for these videos. You have contributed greatly to my life and I really mean that. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

[trevorm1]

thanks for posting these. It means a lot.