Woody Guthrie (from script for opening broadcast of WNEW radio show on 12/3/44) "I hate a song that makes you think you're not any good.  I hate a song that makes you think you are just born to lose.   Bound to lose.  No good to nobody.  No good for nothing.  Because you are either too old or too young or too fat or too slim or too ugly or too this or too that...Songs that run you down or songs that poke fun of you on account of your bad luck or your hard traveling.  I am out to fight these kinds of songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood.  I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter how hard it's run you down nor rolled over you, no matter what color, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to sing the songs that make you take pride in yourself and your work.  And the songs I sing are made up for the most part by all sorts of folks just about like you." Former Occupations: drug store clerk sign painter Birth Name: Woodrow Wilson Guthrie Induction Year: 1977 Date of Birth: 7/14/1912 Place of Birth: Okemah, OK Date of Death: 1967 Place of Death: Brooklyn, NY Career Milestones: late 1920s--formed group "The Corncob Trio" and played at barn dances, bars and on radio early 1930s--started writing down lyrics 1937--performed on radio station KFVD (Los Angeles) on "The Oklahoma and Woody Show" (developed into his own show) 1937--signed contract with Standard Broadcasting Company (radio station KFVD in Houston) 1938--went on assignment for leftist newspaper "The Light" to investigate the living and working conditions of migrant workers; writing became more political; started attending Communist rallies and performing at fundraisers 1940--headed to New York City in January 1940--wrote "This Land Is Your Land" (originally titled "God Blessed America") and forgot about the song for the next 5 years 1940--performed at a "Grapes of Wrath Evening" (organized by actor Will Geer) to benefit the John Steinbeck Committee for Agricultural Workers; he was discovered there by folklorist Alan Lomax 1940--recorded his songs in March for the first time for the Library of Congress Archives at the Department of Interior's studio (included Woody's narrative and interviews by Alan Lomax) 1940--a much-abbreviated version of the Library of Congress recordings was broadcast on CBS radio in NYC on April 2 as part of Alan Lomax's "Columbia School of the Air" program 1940--performed on CBS radio show "The Pursuit of Happiness" 1940--recorded a collection of his Dust Bowl ballads for Victor Records in May 1941--employed by the BPA (Bonneville Power Administration) in Oregon and wrote songs inspired by the Columbia River dam 1941--joined the Almanac Singers on tour 1943--wrote autobiography "Bound For Glory" 1944--hosted show on WNEW radio in NYC late 1940s--wrote book "Seeds of Man" 1956--benefit concert held at Pythian Hall in NYC to raise money for Woody's family and which Woody attended; those who were there deem that evening as an important moment in the rebirth of the folk music revival Awards: 1988--Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction Catalog Highlights This Land Is Your Land Artists: Woody Guthrie Oklahoma Hills Artists: Woody Guthrie, Jack Guthrie (1945),  Roll On, Columbia Artists: Woody Guthrie So Long, It's Been Good to Know You Artists: Woody Guthrie, The Weavers Jesus Christ Artists: Woody Guthrie East Texas Red Co-writer: Cisco Houston Artists: Woody Guthrie This Train is Bound For Glory Artists: Woody Guthrie Philadelphia Lawyer Artists: Woody Guthrie Vigilante Man Artists: Woody Guthrie Pretty Boy Floyd Artists: Woody Guthrie Do-Re-Mi Artists: Woody Guthrie Grand Coulee Dam Artists: Woody Guthrie Pastures of Plenty Artists: Woody Guthrie Tom Joad Artists: Woody Guthrie Deportee Artists: Woody Guthrie Union Maid Artists: Woody Guthrie Comments: Received the Conservation Service Award by the United States Department of the Interior in 1966 because of his love for the land that he wrote about in many of his songs and writings