People's Songs

Infobox Magazine
title = People's Songs


editor = Pete Seeger
frequency = quarterly
circulation =
category =

| company = People's Songs Inc.
founder = Pete Seeger
firstdate = February 1946
country =
language = English
website =
issn =

People's Songs was an organization founded by Pete Seeger on December 31, 1945, in New York City, to "create, promote and distribute songs of labor and the American people."People's Songs Inc. "People's Songs Newsletter, Vol 1. No 1." 1945. Old Town School of Folk Music resource center collection. ] The organization published a quarterly newsletter magazine from 1946 through 1950, it collected stories, songs and writings of People's singers members. The newsletter served as a template for folk music magazines to come like "Sing Out!" and "Broadside".

History

Seeger's work with the Almanac Singers and trips around the country playing banjo for labor benefits and left leaning groups in the 1940s cemented his beliefs that folk music could be an effective force for change. These trips convinced him that an organization to better disseminate information about folk music to the many people's organizations and unions organizing around the country was necessary. These plans were put on hold as Seeger was drafted into the army in the final months of World War II. Upon his release from the Army Seeger finally got a chance to start his organization in 1946. The first People's Songs office was located at 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY. Its founding committee was made up of several members of the Almanac Singers and other notable members of the folk community in New York such as, Woody Guthrie, Lee Hays, Horace Grenell, Anges "Sis" Cunningham, Burl Ives, Millard Lampell, Bess Lomax, Josh White. and Tom Glazer. People's Songs was founded primarily as a way for these unions to better organize by using common songs, book labor singers and share ideas the group encouraged people to join to receive their regular newsletter. In addition to the regular newsletter, they would occasionally publish special issues with topically relevant songs on an as needed basis for rallys, labor strikes or court cases. The organization was loosely modeled as an American version Great Britain's Workers Music Association, founded 10 years earlier than People's Songs.People's Songs Inc. "People's Songs Newsletter, Vol 1. No 2." 1945. Old Town School of Folk Music resource center collection. ] People's Songs branched out into several satellite locations in addition to the New York offices. A yearly convention was held as a place to exchange ideas and play songs. The first People's Songs convention was held in 1947 in Chicago. People's Songs Inc. "People's Songs Newsletter, Vol 2. No 8." 1945. Old Town School of Folk Music resource center collection.]

People's Songs met some success and was active from 1945 to 1950 but this was a trying time for both Unions and the Communist Labor Movements in the United States due to the decline of the communist movement in post war America. Membership declined as the Us Government increasingly cracked down on Communists in Unions and entertainers in the HUAC hearings. After ending People's Songs, Seeger would go on to form the more popular Sing Out magazine with a similar format.

The Newsletter

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quote="The people are on the march and must have songs to sing. Now in 1946, the truth must reassert itself in many singing voices. There are thousands of unions, people's organizations, singers and choruses who would gladly use more songs. There are many songwriters, amateur and professional, who are writing these songs. It is clear that there must be an organization to make and send songs of labor and the American people through the land. To do this job we formed People's Songs. INC We invite your to join us."
source= Pete Seeger, Introduction of People's Songs newsletter No. 1|The People's Songs newsletter was a small mimeographed zine published quarterly from February, 1946 to 1950.The first issue of the People's Songs newsletter was published February, 1946 to a circulation of 3000 countrywide. It contained the quoted preamble and a selection of 7 Union songs widely ranging from traditional songs like "Casey Jones", to standards by Joe Hill, to international songs from Spanish soldiers and new songs by contemporary folk musicians like Lee Hays and Woody Guthrie. This was a format the magazine would follow throughout its years of publication. The songs were numbered to maintain sequence from the first issue continuing through each issue, for example the first issue contained 7 songs, and the first song in the second issue was numbered 8. People's Songs Newsletter served as a template for folk music magazines to come like Sing Out and Broadside.

Contributors to People's Songs Newsletter

People's Songs contained a lot of written out sheet music, lyrics and tablature. It was an eclectic mix of traditional folk and union songs along with newly written pieces by contemporary folk musicians of the time. Some contributors include the following:

*Moe Asch
*Anges "Sis" Cunningham,
*Tom Glazer
*Woody Guthrie
*Lee Hays
*Waldemar Hille
*Zilphia Horton
*Burl Ives
*Millard Lampell
*Pete Seeger
*Irwin Silber
*Sonny Terry
*Josh White

References