Arlo GuthrieThe oldest son of legendary folk pioneer Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie was born in Coney Island in 1947. Following his first public performance at age 13, Arlo quickly became involved in the music that was shaping the world during the 1960s. Arlo witnessed the transition from an earlier generation of ballad singers to a new era of singer-songwriters. He learned something from everyone and developed his own style, becoming a distinctive, expressive voice in a crowded community of singer-songwriters and political-social commentators. Arlo's career exploded in 1967 with the release of his album, Alice's Restaurant, whose title song premiered at the Newport Folk Festival and helped foster a new commitment to social consciousness and activism. Over the last four decades Arlo has toured throughout the world winning a broad following. In addition to being an accomplished musician—playing the piano, six and twelve-string guitar, harmonica and a dozen other instruments—Arlo is a natural-born storyteller whose hilarious tales and timeless anecdotes are woven seamlessly into his performances. In 1983, Arlo launched his own record label, Rising Son Records, which holds his complete catalogue. His daughters Cathy and Annie head the business office in Austin, Texas, and main office in Washington, Massachusetts. Arlo and his family are also heard alongside the voice of his father, Woody Guthrie, on the 1997 release of Grow Big, which won several awards and a Grammy nomination. Arlo's diverse artistic endeavors have included acting roles, a popular newsletter, The Rolling Blunder Review, which he has written and published since 1986, and an award-winning children's book Mooses Come Walking. Guthrie’s undertakings also include community projects. In 1991, Arlo purchased the old Trinity Church—the very location of the events that inspired the song "Alice's Restaurant." The church is home to The Guthrie Center and The Guthrie Foundation. Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay informed about Farm Aid's activities, the annual concert, and current food and farm issues. |
