World Combined Sources

NEW YORK - Woody Guthrie would have been proud. The Winston Unity Auditorium was rocking Saturday, Feb. 24, with a celebration of 60 years of the music of the renowned folksinger. The occasion marked the anniversary of the people's anthem, "This Land is Your Land" and was held in solidarity with striking workers. Over 200 people packed the hall and heard a variety of talented performers.

The evening kicked off with several songs by Matt Jones, founder of the SNCC singers. He was followed by local troubadours George Stass and Gavin Parker.

A highlight of the evening was the greeting from Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter. She is director of the Woody Guthrie Archives and thanked the performers for keeping her father's music alive.

Guthrie told humorous stories that illustrated her father's warmth and commitment to the working class and the fight for justice. Even though he was modest and slight of build, he possessed an unwavering partisanship to the working class, a wealth of talent and a huge heart.

Concert organizer, emcee and Local 1199 member John Pietaro introduced Guthrie by noting that Woody was a member of the Communist Party and writer for the Daily Worker.

"My father was known as a Communist," she said. "At one point he said, 'You know I may or may not be a Communist, but I've lived my whole life in the red.'"

Pietaro later performed on a five-string banjo and sang "Mr. Tom Mooney is Free" - the song that Woody wrote in 1939 that brought him to the attention of the California District of the Communist Party.

Pietaro also performed "Times That Try Workingmen's Souls," his song about the recently ended Domino strike. Several members of ILA Local 1814 were in attendance. Carrie Ann Daniels said that despite the unfavorable settlement she didn't regret for one minute the two years she spent walking the picket line. The event raised $600 for the strike fund.

In addition, Ken Nash, WBAI labor reporter and a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 37, spoke about the crisis at the radio station and encouraged the audience to contact WBAI and Pacifica with letters of protest.

Other performers included the Bread is Rising Poetry Collective, Kirk Kelly, who had an exciting set of punk-laced folk songs, including a rendition of Guthrie's "Bound For Glory" performed at a break-neck speed, and the Ray Korona Band, which performed a wonderful set of humorous numbers.

Solidarity greetings were delivered by John Bachtell of the New York State Communist Party, Ted Glick of the Independent Political Network and representatives of Bread and Roses (1199), the Freedom Socialist Party and the International Workers of World.

Pietaro also read a message from Woody Guthrie's friend and co-worker Pete Seeger, who expressed disappointment that he couldn't be there. "I hope you all here tonight, young and old, women and men, people of many different ethnic backgrounds and many shades of opinions, know that you are carrying on a great tradition, reaching folks everywhere."

All the performers came on stage for a grand rendition of "This Land Is Your Land." All of Woody's verses, including the "lost" ones on private property and the relief office, were heard. Several verses written at later points, including one in Spanish, by the likes of Pete Seeger, the Gray Panthers and Earth First were also heard.