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Written by Peter Garden
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Thursday, 05 June 2008 |
 I don't have many heroes in life but Utah Phillips was one of them. His connection to and depth of understanding of the social movements of the United States and Canada was simply astounding. He wove humor, courage and compassion into his songs and stories, bringing the history of working people and those on the margins alive for generations of people like myself who might not have otherwise heard those stories.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Utah in the summer of 2001 at the Vancouver Folk Festival I believe, for a radio show I was working on called Making the Links. It was one of the best interviews I ever conducted.
Utah had so many interesting insights and wonderful stories to tell
that I wascompletely captivated and wished that the interview would go
on forever. It was made even better by the fact that I thought that the
interview wouldn't happen as Utah was about 45 minutes late after a set he'd performed on a side stage.
I was about to give up on the
interview when I heard singing from the next tent. It was Utah and a
handful of other folks singers serenading the kitchen staff with IWW
songs. I had a big smile pasted across my face.
Soon after he showed
up for the interview and gave me a good chunk of his time. I will
always remember that.
Just two summers ago, Utah came to the Regina Folk Festival. He
stole the show even though there were performers much more well known,
such as Steve Earle.
As was typical he spent his time milling about
the crowd with his trademark silver hair and beard, plaid shirt,
suspenders and hat. A true artist of the people.
It makes me
very sad to think that I will never see Utah perform again. I feel very
fortunate to have seen him the two times that I did.
Utah enabled thousands of people to remember that we are part of a long
history of struggle and that our connection to that struggle is
important and necessary in a day and age that divides us and destroys
community.
He has reminded me on so many occasions that solidarity and
mutual aid should be at the centre of our movements and that the more
often we remember that, the stronger we are together and the happier we
will be as human beings.
His CDs are still
available and AK Press had the foresight to put together a four CD songbook
a couple of years ago compiling many of his best songs and stories with
Utah introducing each with the histories of each of those songs as he
knew them.
If you haven't heard Utah I would recommend exploring his
songs and stories now and see what an absolutely unique and inspiring individual he was.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 June 2008 )
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