Woody Guthrie featuring Billy Bragg
 
Listening to Woody Guthries classic recording the Dust Bowl Ballads, one thing becomes immediately apparent, these things actually happened and this man lived through them. Thounsands of men, women and children died in the massive dust storms of the 1930`s. Many more were made homeless and roamed the southern states of the US as refugees. People died not only from the phenumania which followed, but also from starvation caused by failing crops. Its incredible that although vaguely aware of this disaster it took a cd of a long deceased folk singer to bring home this suffering.
Another point is that the songs are not senitimental or maudling. This is music has purpose, not only to educate but also to provide entertainment and humour which must have been much needed in times such as these.
Woodrow Wilson Guthrie was born 14 July 1912 in Okema Oklahoma. He was the second born son of Nora and Charles Guthrie. His background was not a wealthy one, his father had a variety of trades from land speculater to cowboy. The premature death of Woodys mother and younger sister Cara,affected him profoundly and at age 16 he began a rambling lifestlye joining a Texas based magic show.
Having grown up in musical background, he was already proficient on the violin and harmonica to this he now added his trademark guitar playing. In 1931 having left Texas to escape poverty, Woody met and married, Mary Jennings in the panhandle town of Pampa. They had three children Gwen, Sue and Bill. It was around this time Woody formed his first group The Corn Cob trio with Matt Jennings and Cluster Baker. Unfortunately the Great Depression meant Woody had to move on again unable to support his family. He headed out west with migrants, largely farmers trying to escape the great dust storms of 1935.
|
