Woody Guthrie Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Woody Guthrie Foundation, founded in 1972, is a non-profit organization that serves as administrator and caretaker of the Woody Guthrie
Archives. Dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of information about Guthrie's vast cultural legacy, the Woody Guthrie Archives, which opened to the public in 1996 at West 57th St, New York City, houses the largest collection of Woody Guthrie material in the world.
Guthrie's unrecorded written lyrics housed at the archives have been the starting point of several albums. Foundation Director Nora Guthrie began inviting individual singer-songwriters to visit the Foundation and Archives in New York City where hundreds of lyrics which had never been put to music are kept. At Nora Guthrie's invitation, musicians Jeff Tweedy
of Wilco
and Billy Bragg
released Mermaid Avenue
(1998) and Mermaid Avenue Vol. II
(2000) – both Woody Guthrie lyrical collaborations. The making of Mermaid Avenue, including Bragg's visit to Guthrie's hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma was chronicled in the film documentary Man in the Sand
. Gradually other singer-songwriters have posthumously collaborated with Woody Guthrie, writing and recording music with Guthrie's lyrics. Some of these song collaborations include "God's Promise" (Ellis Paul
), "Dance a Little Longer" (Joel Rafael
) and "This Morning I Am Born Again" (Slaid Cleaves
). In 2001, Frankie Fuchs produced Daddy-O Daddy, rare family songs from lyrics written by Woody, set to music from musicians including Joe Ely
and Taj Mahal
. In 2003, Hans-Eckardt Wenzel released English and German versions of the album, Ticky Tock featuring lyrics adapted from the archive. In 2003 and 2005 respectively, Joel Rafael released, Woodeye: Songs of Woody Guthrie, and Woodyboye: Songs Of Woody Guthrie And Tales Worth Telling, Vol. 2, which include a mix of Woody Guthrie songs, songs created from the lyric archive and Rafael's own stories and songs. In 2004, Janis Ian
released "I Hear You Sing Again." based on unreleased Guthrie lyrics. In 2006, the Klezmatics released Wonder Wheel
, which melds their unique take on klezmer with the Guthrie's lyrics. The Klezmatics also released another album of Guthrie material, entitled Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah. The band Anti-Flag
recorded "Post-War Breakout", a song featuring archive lyrics penned by Woody Guthrie. Eliza Gilkyson
arranged music to the lyrics for the song "Peace Call" from the archive, it appears on her album Land of Milk and Honey.
On September 6, 2007, Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc., in cooperation with the Woody Guthrie Foundation released The Live Wire: Woody Guthrie in Performance 1949, accompanied by a 72-page book describing the performance and the project. Paul Braverman, a student at Rutgers University
in 1949, made the recordings himself using a small wire recorder at a Guthrie concert in Newark, New Jersey. On February 10, 2008, the release was the recipient of a Grammy Award in the category Best Historical Album.
In August 2008, Jonatha Brooke
released The Works, an album of unpublished Guthrie lyrics from the Archives. It is the first album of Woody Guthrie songs composed, arranged, produced and performed by a female singer-songwriter.
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
Archives. Dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of information about Guthrie's vast cultural legacy, the Woody Guthrie Archives, which opened to the public in 1996 at West 57th St, New York City, houses the largest collection of Woody Guthrie material in the world.
Guthrie's unrecorded written lyrics housed at the archives have been the starting point of several albums. Foundation Director Nora Guthrie began inviting individual singer-songwriters to visit the Foundation and Archives in New York City where hundreds of lyrics which had never been put to music are kept. At Nora Guthrie's invitation, musicians Jeff Tweedy
Jeff Tweedy
Jeffrey Scot "Jeff" Tweedy is an American songwriter, musician and leader of the band Wilco. Tweedy joined rockabilly band The Plebes with high school friend Jay Farrar in the early 1980s, but Tweedy's musical interests caused one of Farrar's brothers to quit...
of Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
and Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
released Mermaid Avenue
Mermaid Avenue
Mermaid Avenue is a 1998 album of previously unheard lyrics written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie, put to music written and performed by British singer Billy Bragg and the American band Wilco. The project was organized by Guthrie's daughter, Nora Guthrie. Mermaid Avenue was released on the...
(1998) and Mermaid Avenue Vol. II
Mermaid Avenue Vol. II
Mermaid Avenue Vol. II is a 2000 album of previously unheard lyrics written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie, put to music written and performed by British singer Billy Bragg and the American band Wilco...
(2000) – both Woody Guthrie lyrical collaborations. The making of Mermaid Avenue, including Bragg's visit to Guthrie's hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma was chronicled in the film documentary Man in the Sand
Man in the Sand
Man in the Sand is a 1999 music documentary that chronicles the collaboration between Billy Bragg and Wilco, which involved the musicians creating new music to accompany lyrics that were written decades earlier by folk singer Woody Guthrie. The project, which was organized by Woody's daughter...
. Gradually other singer-songwriters have posthumously collaborated with Woody Guthrie, writing and recording music with Guthrie's lyrics. Some of these song collaborations include "God's Promise" (Ellis Paul
Ellis Paul
Ellis Paul is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician. Born in Aroostook County, Maine, Paul is a key figure in what has become known as the Boston school of songwriting, a literate, provocative and urbanely romantic folk-pop style that helped ignite the folk revival of the 1990s...
), "Dance a Little Longer" (Joel Rafael
Joel Rafael
Joel Rafael is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician from San Diego County, California.Described as a natural interpreter of Woody Guthrie's lyrics and music, Woodyboye, Rafael's second volume to celebrate the songs of Woody Guthrie, was released on Appleseed in 2005. The first volume,...
) and "This Morning I Am Born Again" (Slaid Cleaves
Slaid Cleaves
Slaid Cleaves is a singer-songwriter born in Washington, D.C. and raised in South Berwick, Maine and Round Pond, Maine. An alumnus of Tufts University, where he majored in English and philosophy, Cleaves lives in Austin, Texas....
). In 2001, Frankie Fuchs produced Daddy-O Daddy, rare family songs from lyrics written by Woody, set to music from musicians including Joe Ely
Joe Ely
Joe Ely is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music touches on honky-tonk, Texas Country, Tex-Mex and rock and roll....
and Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
. In 2003, Hans-Eckardt Wenzel released English and German versions of the album, Ticky Tock featuring lyrics adapted from the archive. In 2003 and 2005 respectively, Joel Rafael released, Woodeye: Songs of Woody Guthrie, and Woodyboye: Songs Of Woody Guthrie And Tales Worth Telling, Vol. 2, which include a mix of Woody Guthrie songs, songs created from the lyric archive and Rafael's own stories and songs. In 2004, Janis Ian
Janis Ian
Janis Ian is an American songwriter, singer, musician, columnist, and science fiction author. Ian first entered the folk music scene while still a teenager in the mid-sixties; most active musically in that decade and the 1970s, she has continued recording into the 21st century...
released "I Hear You Sing Again." based on unreleased Guthrie lyrics. In 2006, the Klezmatics released Wonder Wheel
Wonder Wheel (album)
Wonder Wheel is a 2006 album by neo-Klezmer band The Klezmatics. It features lyrics by Woody Guthrie which were unrecorded during his life. It won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 49th Grammy awards....
, which melds their unique take on klezmer with the Guthrie's lyrics. The Klezmatics also released another album of Guthrie material, entitled Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah. The band Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag
Anti-Flag is a punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States, formed in 1988. The band is well known for its outspoken political views. Much of the band's lyrics have focused on fervent anti-war activism, criticism of United States foreign policy, corporatism, U.S. wealth...
recorded "Post-War Breakout", a song featuring archive lyrics penned by Woody Guthrie. Eliza Gilkyson
Eliza Gilkyson
Eliza Gilkyson is an Austin, Texas-based folk musician. She is the daughter of songwriter and folk musician Terry Gilkyson and Jane Gilkyson. She is the sister of guitarist Tony Gilkyson, who played with the Los Angeles-based bands Lone Justice and X...
arranged music to the lyrics for the song "Peace Call" from the archive, it appears on her album Land of Milk and Honey.
On September 6, 2007, Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc., in cooperation with the Woody Guthrie Foundation released The Live Wire: Woody Guthrie in Performance 1949, accompanied by a 72-page book describing the performance and the project. Paul Braverman, a student at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in 1949, made the recordings himself using a small wire recorder at a Guthrie concert in Newark, New Jersey. On February 10, 2008, the release was the recipient of a Grammy Award in the category Best Historical Album.
In August 2008, Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke
Jonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist from Illinois.Her music merges elements of folk, rock and pop, often with poignant lyrics and complex harmonies...
released The Works, an album of unpublished Guthrie lyrics from the Archives. It is the first album of Woody Guthrie songs composed, arranged, produced and performed by a female singer-songwriter.