Woody Guthrie’s 1968 Tribute Concert Brought Together the Best Songwriters of the ‘60s

Before there was Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Paul Simon, and Leonard Cohen there was Woody Guthrie. Hailing from Oklahoma, Guthrie was one of the first musicians to introduce folk and americana music to the mainstream. If it wasn’t for his push for poetry in popular music, the biggest names in country, blues, and other genres would not have existed. He is seemingly the premier influence to the generation with the best songwriters of all time.

Due to him being somewhat of the grandfather of popular folk music. When Guthrie passed away in 1967 the folk world gathered and put on one of the greatest tribute concerts of all time. Hosted at Carnegie Hall in 1968, the tribute concert had two shows on January 20 and celebrated Guthrie in an epic send-off.

Woody Guthrie’s Long List of Fans

In addition to the masses celebrating, the roster of musicians who performed at the show was nearly better than Woodstock. Here are a few of the artists who played—Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Jack Elliot, and Arlo Guthrie. Of course, the moment of the night was when Guthrie’s biggest fan, Dylan, took the stage and played five songs.

Dylan’s set list included songs “Ain’t Got No Home,” “This Land is Your Land,” and “Dear Mrs. Roosevelt.” Other songs played during the two shows were also “Curly Headed Baby” by Pete Seeger and “Pastures of Plenty” by Joan Baez.

An Appearance Amidst Bob Dylan’s Hiatus

Even though the night was dedicated to Woody Guthrie, Dylan stole the show. Dylan’s stealing of the show was because he was incredibly reclusive after his motorcycle accident in 1966. So, when he “finally emerged from 18 months of self-imposed seclusion at the Woody Guthrie Memorial Concert” the world went into shock, per Rolling Stone. Dylan seemingly came out of hiding to pay his respects to his biggest inspiration.

All in all, the show was a testament to the late great Woody Guthrie. Additionally, it was also a testament to the lasting influence he has to this day. Thanks to the spectacle the show was, Guthrie’s legacy has been cemented in folk music forever. Between Dylan’s show-stealing antics and the all-star lineup, it is surely one of the most historical tribute concerts of all time. Woody Guthrie will always be remembered as the man who came before Bob Dylan and everyone else after him.

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