B4+Currin+Summary

Woody Guthrie was born on July 14, 1912. He was the second born son of Charles and Nora Belle Guthrie. His father was a cowboy, land speculator, and a local politician. Woody’s father taught him western songs, Indian songs, and Scottish folk’s tunes. Woody’s mother who was born in Kansas was also musically inclined. During Woodies early years in Oklahoma he had lost his mother and an accidental death of his sister Clara. Woody Guthrie did many odd jobs. He was a newsboy, junk collector, milkman, shoe shiner, real estate agent, author of books and recording artist. In 1920 oil was found in an overnight Okemah (a city in a county). This brought thousands of workers, gamblers and hustlers to once a sleepy farm town. Within a few years the oil flow suddenly went to a halt. And they suffered an economic turnaround. In 1931 woody left for Texas where he fell in love with Mary Jennings who was the younger sister of Woody’s friend and a musician Matt Jennings. Mary and Woody Married in 1933 and had three children named Gwen, Sue, and Bill. It was Matt Jennings and Cluster Baker that Woody had made his first attempt at a musical career. when Woody arrived in California in 1937 he had experience intense hatred from residents who opposed the massive migration of the so called "Okie" outsiders. In the late 40's and early 50's Woody headed south to Florida where friends and fellow activist Stetson Kennedy offered blacklist living space on his property. becoming more and more unappreciated Woody moved back to new york with his wife and was hospitalized several times. he was mistakenly diagnosed and treated from everything from alcoholism to schizophrenia. his symptoms and physical condition got worse. He than went to a New Jersey hospital where he was them diagnosed with more problems. Woody than died on October 3, 1967. his ashes were than sprinkled off the bridge of Coney Island.