Before WoodyFest began, singer's family came to Oklahoma for benefit concert

Linda Lynn, The Oklahoman
·2 min read
Marjorie Guthrie, and her son, Arlo, talk during a news conference during their July 1971 visit to Okemah.
Marjorie Guthrie, and her son, Arlo, talk during a news conference during their July 1971 visit to Okemah.

It wasn't the first time Woody Guthrie's family had traveled to Oklahoma. But the July 1971 visit was special as it would be the famous folk singer's birthday, and the family had arrived for a concert that would benefit research for Huntington's disease.

Woody Guthrie, born July 14, 1912, in Okemah, had died from Huntington's disease less than three years earlier in October 1967.

Woody Guthrie's son, Arlo Guthrie, carries his own son, Abraham, as he arrives in Oklahoma City. Arlo and his family would attend a benefit concert in July 1971 in Okemah where some would be celebrating the famous folk singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie, who had died in 1967 from Huntington's disease.
Woody Guthrie's son, Arlo Guthrie, carries his own son, Abraham, as he arrives in Oklahoma City. Arlo and his family would attend a benefit concert in July 1971 in Okemah where some would be celebrating the famous folk singer/songwriter Woody Guthrie, who had died in 1967 from Huntington's disease.

Guthrie's son, Arlo, and Arlo's mother, Marjorie Guthrie, arrived in Okemah on the eve of the singer/songwriter's birthday. Also accompanying Arlo was his wife, Jackie, and their son, Abraham.

In a July 14, 1971, story in The Daily Oklahoman, Marjorie Guthrie spoke during a news conference:

"We have come because we were invited. And we're very pleased to come because there are a lot of people here who want to celebrate Woody's birthday."

More: Woody Guthrie Folk Festival draws musicians and fans back to folk icon's Oklahoma hometown

It became clear that some were not so pleased with talk of a celebration, though Marjorie had hopes of convincing them otherwise, as reported in the news story:

Not everyone in Okemah wants to celebrate his birthday anniversary. The Okemah Chamber of Commerce decided it would not promote a special day in his memory.

Mrs. Guthrie has hopes of changing the minds of those Okemah citizens ― and others — who have branded Guthrie a Communist.

Woody Guthrie is probably best known by many for his song "This Land Is Your Land," which has been sung by many an elementary school student, who also might have sung his "Crawdad Song." But his song lyrics and outspokenness against oppression soon earned him the communist label.

When Arlo was asked in 1971 what he thought about the label placed on his father, he reportedly shrugged his shoulders and said, "That's fine. It's better than nobody being interested."

A statue of Woody Guthrie is photographed during the 26th annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival called WoodyFest in 2023 in Okemah.
A statue of Woody Guthrie is photographed during the 26th annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival called WoodyFest in 2023 in Okemah.

More than 50 years have passed since the family's visit to Okemah. Recognition of the city's native son is no longer an issue as evident in The Woody Guthrie Festival which is held annually and called WoodyFest. The event was planned this year for July 10-14, which coincides with Woody's birthday.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Before WoodyFest: Woody Guthrie's 1971 visit to Okemah Oklahoma

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