Bringing Woody Home — Twenty Years Later

The first hometown tribute for Woody Guthrie was recorded live at the Crystal Theatre in Okemah, Oklahoma, on December 1, 1988. This recording was released on Flying Fish Records, entitled It Takes a Lot of People, Larry Long and the Children of Oklahoma. Organized by Larry Long with the help and guidance of the people and children of Okemah, it was the culmination of a three-year residency.

Long spent those years working with the children to bring back the heart and soul of Woody Guthrie by introducing them to Guthrie's songs and the music that inspired him. The work that Long did with the Okemah community grew into the annual Woody Guthrie festival, still held every year on Woody's birthday.

Bringing Woody Home was the first Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song celebration and is now the primary program of Community Celebration of Place of which Larry Long is the Executive Director.

Twenty years later Larry returned to Okemah, OK, to revisit and give thanks to the places and people he met all those years ago who were the inspiration for his life’s work.

For more information:

www.communitycelebration.org
www.woodyguthrie.org

For more information about Woody Guthrie: