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The Folk Music Revival in the 1960s

© Patricia Jacobs

Folk and protest music as we know it in the 1960s had its roots at the turn of the 20th century. The International Workers of the World (IWW), whose members were known as Wobblies, first wrote protest songs as part of their drive to equality for American workers.

Their anthem was "Solidarity Forever" (set to the music of "Battle Hymn of the Republic") written by co-organizer Ralph Chaplin. During the "Red Scare" that followed World War I, federal and state enforcement raided and closed the IWW offices.

Woody Guthrie (Bob Dylan's biggest influence) then stepped in. Born Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, he left home at sixteen, working a variety of jobs. He learned to play guitar from an uncle and began playing on street corners. In the late 1930s, he relocated to New York City and became involved in several radical publications and causes.

After World War II (he served for two years), he returned to New York, where he wrote many of his 1,000(!) songs, including "This Land Is Your Land" "Billy The Kid" and "Tom Joad". (His son, Arlo, continues the family folk singing legacy.)

Pete Seeger joined Guthrie, hitting the road to sing. Seeger was born in New York City to a musical family and even attended Harvard, but left college to work with folklorist Alan Lomax. After also serving in World War II, Seeger formed People's Songs, Inc., a musician's union that had 3,000 members, including Guthrie.

Seeger also formed The Weavers, of "On Top Of Old Smoky" and "Good Night Irene" fame. Then Senator Joseph McCarthy came to power; protest singers and any causes or organizations deemed as Communist or un-American were fair game. Seeger, Guthrie, and many others were blacklisted and denied work, save for sporadic, low-level engagements for several years.

Folk music began to reappear in 1960, and came back in a big way by 1961, embraced by the new generation of college students. It was considered a serious alternative to the Brill Building-Phil Spector-teen pop.

The Kingston Trio started the folk revival. Formed in 1957, (by three college students) the Trio had a no. 1 smash "Tom Dooley" in 1958. "The Tijuana Jail" "M.T.A." and "A Worried Man" were all Top 20 hits in 1959. "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" and "Greenback Dollar" both hit at no. 21 in 1962 and 1963, respectively. They returned to the Top 10 with "The Reverend Mr. Black" , also from '63. The Trio became HUGELY successful.

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