Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Woody Guthrie’s birth

10 p.m. to Midnight Host: Steve Winters

Woodrow Wilson Guthrie stands supreme as America’s folk balladeer — one of its greatest songwriters and chroniclers of the nation’s history, complete with all its warts and finely polished surfaces. This program utilizes “Profiles in Folk” to bring listeners a special edition of the syndicated “American Routes” show hosted by Nick Spitzer and provided through Public Radio Exchange.

Saturday, July 14 marks the 100th anniversary of Woody Guthrie’s birth in Okemah, Oklahoma. This special salute to our nation’s exemplary roving troubadour and social commentator features visits with Woody’s children Nora and Arlo reflecting on their father’s life, scholar Guy Logsdon discussing Guthrie’s Dust Bowl days and folk icon Pete Seeger sharing the back story of Woody’s immensely popular anthem “This Land Is Your Land”.

During the show I also offered tickets to the upcoming Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Hillsdale, N.Y. which will include a special tribute to Woody as part of its weekend’s festivities. A big bouquet goes to Anne Saunders, the festival’s executive director, for once again generously offering all-festival ticket packages to our listeners