Rest In Peace Utah Phillips

U. Utah Phillips the American anarchist folk singer has died at the age of 73.

Utah was a union organizer within the radical syndicalist union the Industrial Workers of the World. He was famous for his folk singing and storytelling rather than his political activities however.He left behind a wealth of material that acts as a verbal and musical link with American workplace organizing stretching back over a hundred years. He would often introduce songs that were written long before his birth with a short story that offered an historical perspective to the lyrics.

He was also an avid fan of the american rail roads and himself used to travel around the states in his younger days by ‘riding the rails’ in the american hobo tradition.

His songs were an inspiration to me and many others over the years and I personally found him amazingly inspiring.

Rest in peace Utah and thanks for the music and the stories, you will be missed by many.