Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

July 14, 1912 in Okemah, OK

Death

:

October 3, 1967 in New York City, NY

 

Woody Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter and folk musician who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the development of American folk music. Born on July 14, 1912, in Okemah, Oklahoma, Guthrie was the second of five children born to Charles and Nora Belle Guthrie. His father was a successful businessman and politician, while his mother was a talented musician who played the piano and sang in the local church choir. Guthrie's early years were marked by tragedy and hardship. When he was just four years old, his older sister Clara died in a fire, an event that had a profound impact on him and would later inspire some of his most famous songs. In 1927, when Guthrie was 15 years old, his mother was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that would eventually claim her life. Guthrie's father, unable to cope with his wife's illness, left the family and moved to Texas, leaving Guthrie and his siblings to fend for themselves. Despite these challenges, Guthrie showed an early talent for music and began playing the guitar and harmonica at a young age. He was heavily influenced by the blues and country music of the time, as well as by the traditional folk songs of his native Oklahoma. In the early 1930s, Guthrie began performing at local dances and social events, and he soon became a popular figure in the Oklahoma music scene. In 1935, Guthrie left Oklahoma and headed west to California, where he hoped to find work as a musician. He quickly became involved in the burgeoning labor movement of the time, performing at union rallies and picket lines and writing songs that spoke to the struggles of working-class Americans. It was during this period that Guthrie began to develop his distinctive style of songwriting, characterized by simple, direct lyrics and a strong sense of social justice. In 1940, Guthrie moved to New York City, where he became a central figure in the city's vibrant folk music scene. He quickly established himself as a prolific songwriter, penning hundreds of songs that addressed a wide range of social and political issues, from the plight of migrant workers to the struggles of African Americans to the horrors of war. Some of his most famous songs from this period include "This Land Is Your Land," "Pastures of Plenty," and "Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)." Throughout the 1940s, Guthrie continued to write and perform, becoming a beloved figure in the American folk music community. He also became increasingly involved in left-wing politics, joining the Communist Party and using his music to promote socialist ideals. However, his political activities would eventually lead to his downfall. In 1950, Guthrie was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he was accused of being a communist sympathizer. He refused to answer the committee's questions, citing his Fifth Amendment rights, and was subsequently blacklisted from the entertainment industry. In the years that followed, Guthrie's health began to decline. He was diagnosed with Huntington's disease, the same illness that had claimed his mother's life, and he began to experience the symptoms of the disease, including tremors, slurred speech, and difficulty walking. Despite his declining health, Guthrie continued to write and perform, and he remained a beloved figure in the American folk music community until his death in 1967.

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