Jeanie Keltner's 70th Birthday Party Benefits Alternative Media

The birthday party for Jeanie Keltner, respected anti-war and social justice activist, artist, writer and editor of Because People Matter, featured a huge turnout by Sacramento's progressive community. The room at the California Stage was packed - every seat was filled. The event celebrated her 70th birthday and honored her vital work in our community.

Michael Stavros showed a great video he produced about Jeanie, including lots of clips of Jeanie from demonstrations, meetings, rallies and other events. It also showed some photos of Jeanie when she was a kid and teenager.

I performed a song I wrote for the occasion, while Jeanie led a singalong with the peace songs she always likes to sing. The organizers of the event, including JoAnn Fuller, did a fantastic job.

The walls of the theatre were festooned with enlarged photos and reprints from a few of the many articles that Jeanie has written over the years. I got there too late for the sandwiches, but not for the pizza and the cake.

Proceeds from the event benefitted local alternative media, including Because People Matter newspaper and We the Media ("Media Edge") and Access Sacramento on cable television.

Here's my song, to the tune of "Ain't Gonna Study War No More."


Jeanie’s Birthday Song

by Dan Bacher

I’m gonna pick up my guitar and sign, down by Jeanie’s side, down by Jeanie’s side
I’m gonna pick up my guitar and sign, down by Jeanie's side, she’s not 69 no more
She’s not 69 no more
She turns the big Seven O Today!

She sings this tune to her fans, every single place she can
Alone or with a band, at the capitol or William Land
She sings this tune to all her fans, every single place she can
She’s not 69 no more
She turns the big Seven O Today!

In the streets, she leaflets every day, about the war and the CIA
She’s monitored by the NSA, the FBI and the DIA (2x)
In the streets, she leaflets every day, about the war or the CIA
She’s not 69 no more
She turns the big Seven O today!

She’s traveled off to see Fidel, she thinks “el sup” is really swell
Venezuela serves her well, for months in France she often dwells
She’s traveled off to see Fidel, she thinks “el sup” is really swell
She’s not 69 no more
She turns the big Seven O today!

She battled Mark Williams about the war, he’s against all that she’s for
He’s a nasty right wing whore, but he’s not on the air no more!
She battled Mark Williams about the war, he’s against all that she’s for
She’s not 69 no more
She turns the big Seven O today!

She taught English Lit for many years, her brutal tests were greatly feared
At BPM she’s an editor, when people flake it brings her tears.
She taught English Lit for many years, her brutal tests were greatly feared
She’s not 69 no more
She turns the big Seven O today!

I’m gonna pick up my guitar and sign, down by Jeanie’s side, down by Jeanie’s side
I’m gonna pick up my guitar and sign, down by Jeanie's side, she’s not 69 no more
She’s not 69 no more
She turns the big Seven O Today!