Photo: Al Aumuller, photographer. NYWT&S staff photograph. / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Woody Guthrie remains my measuring stick for what a songwriter can be. Born in Okemah, Oklahoma in 1912, he turned dust-bowl hardship into plainspoken anthems, and This Land Is Your Land still works as an alternative national hymn. What strikes me is how unguarded his convictions were; he famously wrote that his guitar was a machine for fighting fascists, and he meant it. Nearly every protest singer since, Dylan included, works in his shadow. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award feel almost beside the point. His real monument is the idea that a song belongs to the people who need it most.
Overview
Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, and composer widely considered one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism and has inspired many generations politically and musically with songs such as "This Land Is Your Land" and "Tear the Fascists Down".
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Woody Guthrie
- Name (Japanese)
- ウディ・ガスリー
- Reading
- うでぃ・がすりー
- Born
- July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Rat
- Origin
- Okemah, Oklahoma, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- guitarist / singer-songwriter / street artist / musicologist / songwriter
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2000 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2016 Americana Music Association President's Award
- 1997 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
- 1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | This Land Is Your Land | — |
6. Links
Guitarist — see all → · Singer-songwriter — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.