"New" Woody Guthrie Songs Get World Premiere December 16

Press release
Source: Randex Communications

Forty years after his untimely passing, “original folk hero” Woody Guthrie will help write another significant chapter in American folk music when his previously unheard lyrics will be revealed to new melodies in an historic world premiere event celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Folksong Society. “In Woody's Words” will showcase these new “songs” performed by the artists who’ve brought them to life, when Chris Smither, John Gorka, Jonatha Brooke, Tom Paxton, Sara Lee Guthrie & Johnnie Irion and Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer present their new interpretations of Guthrie’s lyrics at a gala luncheon Sunday, December 16 at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., Philadelphia.

The Woody Guthrie Family and the Woody Guthrie Archives will be honored by the Philadelphia Folksong Society for enriching America with the songs and spirit of Woody Guthrie. The Folksong Society, best known for producing the Philadelphia Folk Festival each summer since 1962, is a not for profit educational organization dedicated to the encouragement, dissemination, and enjoyment of folk music and related expressions of folklore, and the sponsoring of research, education, therapeutic programs and related publications.

Guthrie is not only considered the most important American folk music artist of the first half of the 20th century, but a major influence on the popular music of the second half of the 20th century. At his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Guthrie was credited with paving the way “for Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and a host of other folk and rock songwriters who have been moved by conscience to share experiences and voice opinions in a forthright manner.” Revered classics such as “This Land Is Your Land,” “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You,” “Grand Coulee Dam,” and “Pastures of Plenty” are among hundreds of Guthrie-penned songs. His music has been recorded by artists in every musical style, from rock to jazz, country to rap.

Nora Guthrie, director of the Woody Guthrie Archives and Woody’s daughter, will accept the honors and introduce a musical film featuring Billy Bragg, Wilco, the Klezmatics and other contemporary artists who also have written melodies for Woody's poems and lyrics from the Archives.

“The wonderful thing about working with the new lyrics from the archives is that I keep realizing that there is a song for everyone,” says Nora. “Somewhere, in the pile of 2500 lyrics, there's something that strikes a chord for each musician. The songs in this performance will be chosen by each of the musicians. Working this way, we keep the connections honest and true. It also keeps broadening people's concepts of Woody as a songwriter. Woody wrote songs on every topic - from love songs, to union songs, to political songs, to children’s songs, to historical ballads, to bawdy songs, songs about life and death, health and illness. He was the most uncensored songwriter I ever met! Everything and everyone on earth was a lyric. So in that sense, the lyrics that these musicians will be performing, say as much about them – their lives and their interests, their loves, their politics, their kids, their neighborhoods, etc – as anything Woody said about himself. It's a moment where they can share a mutual ‘yea!’”

"We are completely excited about this program,” says nationally-renown folk music programmer Gene Shay, producer of “In Woody's Words” for the Philadelphia Folksong Society and founder of the Philadelphia Folk Festival. “It’s one of the most important projects with which I’ve been involved in my entire career. I just can't wait to hear how all these talented folk performers will add their own music to words Woody wrote so many years ago. I’m honored to be able to bring this all together.”

Attendance to the luncheon is by invitation only. A limited number of tickets are available. For information about attending, please contact Lauri Barish, executive director of the Philadelphia Folksong Society, at (215) 247-1300 or lbarish@pfs.org.