The "Golden Voice of the Great Southwest": Legendary Folk Musician, Activist Utah Phillips, 1935-2008

Over the span of the nearly four decades, Utah Phillips worked in what he referred to as “the Trade,” performing tirelessly for audiences in large and small cities throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. His songs were performed by Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez and Arlo Guthrie. He earned a Grammy nomination for an album he recorded with Ani DiFranco and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Folk Alliance.

Born Bruce Duncan Phillips in 1935, he later adopted the name “Utah.” The son of labor organizers, Phillips was a lifelong member of the Industrial Workers of the World, known as the Wobblies. As a teenager, he ran away from home and started living as a hobo who rode the rails and wrote songs about his experiences. In 1956, he joined the Army and served in the Korean War, an experience he would later refer to as the turning point of his life. In 1968, he ran for the U.S. Senate on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket.

For the past 21 years he lived in Nevada City where he started a nationally syndicated folk-music radio show, "Loafer"s Glory," produced at community radio station KVMR. He also helped found the Hospitality House homeless shelter and the Peace and Justice Center.

Today we spend the hour hearing Utah Phillips in his own words. In January 2004, I had a chance to sit down with him for an extensive interview. We met at the pirate radio station, Free Radio Santa Cruz, where Utah had come to perform.

Utah Phillips, legendary folk musician and peace and labor activist, interviewed in January 2004. He passed away in his sleep in his Nevada City home Friday night of congestive heart failure. He was 73 years old.

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