Phil Ochs 2009 Folk Alliance International Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Phil Ochs was born in El Paso, Texas on Dec. 19. 1940. He grew up in a non-political middle class family. While in college at Ohio State University, he met Jim Glover who became his roommate and whose father was Phil's political teacher. It was during this time, while he was majoring in journalism, that Phil formed his political beliefs and started putting them to music.

After 3 years of college, Phil dropped out and went to New York City. This was during the early '60's when things were booming in Greenwich Village. Phil started out singing at open mikes and passing the hat. By 1964 he was well enough established to release his first album, "All the News That's Fit To Sing". His second album, "I Ain't Marching Anymore", was released in 1965, and by 1966 he was able to sell out Carnegie Hall for his solo concert.

Most of Phil's songs were very political, some humorous and some very serious. He wrote about the topics of the day - civil rights, Viet Nam, hungry miners, and personalities such as Billy Sol Estes, William Worthy and Lou Marsh.

In 1967 he signed with A&M Records where his first release was "Pleasures of the Harbor" in which he used heavily orchestrated arrangements for the first time. Some fans criticized this change, while others accepted it.

Phil continued to perform and to travel around the world. While in Dar Es Salaam, he was mugged and lost the top three notes of his vocal range. This event seemed to send him on a downward spiral. His last years were troubled ones. He suffered from manic depression plus an affinity for the bottle. He committed suicide on April 9, 1976 at the age of 35.

Many of Phil's songs have been covered by other artists. Some of his best known songs are: "Changes", "There But For Fortune", "I Ain't Marching Anymore", "Draft Dodger", "Small Circle of Friends", Crucifixion" and "When I'm Gone".

Category:

Music

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• Phil Ochs
• Folk Alliance
• Folk Alliance International
• Folk music

[dnegativeproductions]

@BrianGriffin1 thanks,bg1!

[BrianGriffin1]

@dnegativeproductions It was from the "Midnight Special" TV show. It was recorded on April 19, 1974. Phil performed "The Power and the Glory" and "Changes". Playing with him is his old friend his Ohio State days, Jim Glover. You can find both songs on YouTube! I think it was also his last televised performance. Phil was such a great voice for his time AND ours!

[spunkysrevenge]

thank you for posting this...

[dnegativeproductions]

anybody know where the clip with curtis mayfield introducing phil comes from?

[spacepatrolman]

Hey thats murry the k phil ochs friend he was a fast talking am radio dj and a smooth taling fm dj also friends with jim and jean and the blues project he had them in his concert series