Woody Guthrie left California for New York in 1940.
Woody
Guthrie
left
California
for
New
York
in
1940
.
There he met Alan Lomax, an expert on America's traditional music.
There
he
met
Alan
Lomax
,
an
expert
on
America
's
traditional
music
.
He collected and recorded traditional American folk music, which had few fans at that time.
He
collected
and
recorded
traditional
American
folk
music
,
which
had
few
fans
at
that
time
.
When he heard Woody sing, Lomax knew he had found a true singer of American folk music.
When
he
heard
Woody
sing
,
Lomax
knew
he
had
found
a
true
singer
of
American
folk
music
.
Lomax recorded many of Woody's songs for the Library of Congress.
Lomax
recorded
many
of
Woody
's
songs
for
the
Library
of
Congress
.
Three years later, Woody published a book called Bound for Glory.
Three
years
later
,
Woody
published
a
book
called
Bound
for
Glory
.
It was about his early life and travels.
It
was
about
his
early
life
and
travels
.
From this book people came to learn how Woody had spent his unhappy youth.
From
this
book
people
came
to
learn
how
Woody
had
spent
his
unhappy
youth
.
His mother, Nora Guthrie, died of Huntington's Disease in 1929 when he was only seventeen years old.
His
mother
,
Nora
Guthrie
,
died
of
Huntington
's
Disease
in
1929
when
he
was
only
seventeen
years
old
.
There was no treatment for the disease.
There
was
no
treatment
for
the
disease
.
About twenty years later, the disease also began to attack the son.
About
twenty
years
later
,
the
disease
also
began
to
attack
the
son
.
Woody's health got worse and worse, and finally he entered a hospital.
Woody
's
health
got
worse
and
worse
,
and
finally
he
entered
a
hospital
.
While Woody seemed to be forgotten, his music was not.
While
Woody
seemed
to
be
forgotten
,
his
music
was
not
.
By the late 1950s, folk music became popular in America.
By
the
late
1950s
,
folk
music
became
popular
in
America
.
More Americans began listening and playing the songs of Woody Guthrie.
More
Americans
began
listening
and
playing
the
songs
of
Woody
Guthrie
.
Young folk singers came to New York to visit Woody in the hospital.
Young
folk
singers
came
to
New
York
to
visit
Woody
in
the
hospital
.
Among them was Bob Dylan, one of America's greatest popular songwriters.
Among
them
was
Bob
Dylan
,
one
of
America
's
greatest
popular
songwriters
.
He called Woody his hero.
He
called
Woody
his
hero
.
Dylan and others copied the way Woody sang and played the guitar.
Dylan
and
others
copied
the
way
Woody
sang
and
played
the
guitar
.
And like Woody, they wrote songs that called for social and political justice.
And
like
Woody
,
they
wrote
songs
that
called
for
social
and
political
justice
.
Woody Guthrie stayed in the hospital until he died in 1967.
Woody
Guthrie
stayed
in
the
hospital
until
he
died
in
1967
.
In the last years of his life, Woody could hardly speak.
In
the
last
years
of
his
life
,
Woody
could
hardly
speak
.
But his family and friends knew he still believed in the causes he had sung and written about all his life.
But
his
family
and
friends
knew
he
still
believed
in
the
causes
he
had
sung
and
written
about
all
his
life
.
They knew this because when they sang his songs, Woody's eyes would become brighter and his defiant spirit would shine through.
They
knew
this
because
when
they
sang
his
songs
,
Woody
's
eyes
would
become
brighter
and
his
defiant
spirit
would
shine
through
.
Woody Guthrie left California for New York in 1940. There he met Alan Lomax, an expert on America's traditional music. He collected and recorded traditional American folk music, which had few fans at that time. When he heard Woody sing, Lomax knew he had found a true singer of American folk music. Lomax recorded many of Woody's songs for the Library of Congress.  Three years later, Woody published a book called Bound for Glory. It was about his early life and travels. From this book people came to learn how Woody had spent his unhappy youth. His mother, Nora Guthrie, died of Huntington's Disease in 1929 when he was only seventeen years old. There was no treatment for the disease. About twenty years later, the disease also began to attack the son. Woody's health got worse and worse, and finally he entered a hospital.  While Woody seemed to be forgotten, his music was not. By the late 1950s, folk music became popular in America. More Americans began listening and playing the songs of Woody Guthrie. Young folk singers came to New York to visit Woody in the hospital. Among them was Bob Dylan, one of America's greatest popular songwriters. He called Woody his hero. Dylan and others copied the way Woody sang and played the guitar. And like Woody, they wrote songs that called for social and political justice.  Woody Guthrie stayed in the hospital until he died in 1967. In the last years of his life, Woody could hardly speak. But his family and friends knew he still believed in the causes he had sung and written about all his life. They knew this because when they sang his songs, Woody's eyes would become brighter and his defiant spirit would shine through.