Woody Guthrie Birthday Tribute Tonight at Cactus Cafe
Today, legendary folk artist Woody Guthrie would have been 95 years old. He was born July 14, 1912 in Okemah, OK. Even when he was a young boy, Guthrie had a keen observation of life and the people around him. That awareness would eventually lead him to the open road across the country, singing about the plight of the common man.
After miles of traveling, working odd jobs and singing in saloons, he arrived in California in 1937 and got a radio job in Los Angeles at KFVD. He performed his music and used the airwaves as a forum to give voice to the working people, including the thousands of relocated “Okie” migrants who left their homes to make a better life. Some branded Guthrie as an outcast and a rebel, but he simply saw himself as an advocate for truth and justice. It was only the beginning of his journey.
There’s an in-depth look at his life on the official Woody Guthrie website, along with archives and information about the Woody Guthrie Foundation.
In honor of Guthrie’s birthday, songwriter Butch Hancock will gather with other like-minded, talented folks to present a special birthday tribute show tonight at the Cactus Cafe, 2247 Guadalupe (24th and Guadalupe) in the Texas Union. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. This is one you won’t want to miss.
“Watch the kids. Do like they do. Act like they act. Yell like they yell. Dance the ways you see them dance. Sing like they sing. Work and rest the way the kids do. You’ll be healthier. You’ll feel wealthier. You’ll talk wiser. You’ll go higher, do better, and live longer here amongst us if you’ll just only jump in here and swim around in these songs and do like the kids do. I don’t want the kids to be grownup. I want to see the grown folks be kids.” -Woody Guthrie
