Woody Guthrie To Be Honored January 30 In Hoboken
As a fundraiser for the American Civil Liberties Union, iconic folksinger Woody Guthrie [1912-1967] will be the subject of a “Song Celebration” at Hoboken’s 503 Social Club. Elena Skye and Boo Reiners of the Demolition String Band will host. Skye’s press release reads, in part, “with all the struggles going on in our country these days, and the struggles we will be facing in the coming years, it felt like it was time to revisit the Woody Guthrie catalog. Before there was Pete Seeger, there was Woody. His inspiring, empowering songs still ring true today.” Guthrie’s grandson, Cole Quest, will perform, as will Jon and Deena of The Cucumbers, Glenn Morrow and others.
Guthrie’s importance cannot be overstated. Robert Santelli, of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, is the world’s foremost Woody Guthrie expert. He has written four books on the man and his legacy: Woody Guthrie’s Songs and Art, Words and Wisdom (with Woody’s daughter Nora), This Land Is Your Land: Woody Guthrie and the Journey of an American Folk Song, Woody At 100: The Centennial Collection and Hard Travelin’: The Life and Legacy of Woody Guthrie.
When contacted, Santelli, back from India and just prior to his trip to Cuba, told us, “I’ve spent much of my career reading, writing about and listening to Woody Guthrie. His life and his songs never cease to amaze me, mostly because his understanding of the complexities of America—its triumphs and its failures—have both informed and inspired me. He is in the soul of Dylan, Springsteen, Mellencamp, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne and so many others whose concern about our country reveals itself in their songs. And I like to think he’s in my soul, too.”
I have always contended that Woody’s “This Land Is Your Land” should be America’s National Anthem.
For more information on the Hoboken event including ticketing, visit elenaandboo.com
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