Anne Feeney

Anne Feeney (born July 1, 1951) is a political activist, songwriter and folk singer.

Life and career

Feeney was born near Pittsburgh, PA on July 1, 1951. She graduated from high school in 1968. After saving for one year she purchased a Martin D-28 guitar that she still plays today. The Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement were influential events that shaped her politics and songwriting. Feeney was also influenced by her grandfather, William Patrick Feeney, who was a mineworkers' organiser and a violinist who also used his music in the service of political and labor causes.

She worked for about 12 years as a trial attorney and served as President of the Pittsburgh Musicians' Union. She also spent two decades involved in community activism and regional performances at political and labor rallies. She is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Since 1991 Feeney has toured North America and the world to perform and participate in political and labor rallies and events. Her first recording, "Look to the Left", was released in 1992. Since then she has released several more albums, most recently "If I Can't Dance". Feeney and her daughter Amy Berlin performed Feeney's song "Ain't I A Woman" at the "March for Women's Lives" in Washington, DC on April 25, 2004.

Anne Feeney's music has been recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary and played in concert as well. Political cartoonist Mike Konopaki included Feeney's recording of Union Maid, in a flash animation in 2003. Feeney's song "Have You Been to Jail for Justice?" was included in a broadcast of radio program "Democracy Now!" and also featured in the documentaries "This is What Democracy Looks Like", "Isn't This a Time: A Tribute to Harold Leventhal" and "Get Up/Stand Up: The History of Pop and Protest."

Feeney is the mother of two children, Dan and Amy Berlin. In 2002, she married Swedish political artist Julie Leonardsson.

Quotes about Anne Feeney

*"If I had a cause - and who doesn't? - I'd want Anne Feeney singing for me."-- Stephen Ide (Writer for Dirty Linen Magazine, which covers folk, roots, traditional and world music.)

*"Anne Feeney is the best labor singer in North America." -- Utah Phillips (Labor organizer, folk singer, storyteller, poet and "Golden Voice of the Great Southwest".)

*"Congratulations on your fine songwriting!" -- Pete Seeger (Legendary folk singer and political activist.)

*"Anne is a role model for us. She has lived her songs." -- Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul and Mary)

External links

* [http://www.annefeeney.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/annefeeneyreally Anne on Myspace]
* [http://fellow-travelers-advisory.blogspot.com/ Anne Feeney's blog]
* [http://wholewheatradio.org/wiki/index.php/Artists:Anne_Feeney Anne on Whole Wheat Radio]