Folk songs and ballads are the music of the people. They represent and acknowledge the cultural diversity from which they arise. I constantly get amazed by what’s in the American Folklife Center at the Library Of Congress. The center was created in 1976 to "preserve and present" this important part of our history. Today's throwback honors Woody Guthrie, a folk music pioneer.
His influence on the Grateful Dead was obvious as many of our founding members started out in a series of bands that were folk, country and bluegrass-based. Songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Harry Chapin, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger, and Jeff Tweedy also acknowledge Guthrie as a major influence.
Check out Woody performing "Goin' Down The Road" from the 40's:
http://bit.ly/woodydowntheroad
Jerry and Bob performing "This Land Is Your Land" in honor of Woody's birthday in 1989:
http://bit.ly/woodytribute1989
Visit The American Folklife Center Online:
http://bit.ly/folklifecenter
