Mudcatter Raymond Crooke, who is a talented and prolific poster on YouTube, wrote a song last year about a Kentucky coal miner and mine safety activist, Charles Scott Howard. Titled "Big Coal Don't Like This Man At All", it tells the story of Mr. Howard's safety battles with his employer, Cumberland River Coal Company. Check it out below:

Big Coal Don't Like This Man At All


Mr. Howard was fired by Cumberland River Coal back in May, 2011. He claims it was because of all the safety complaints he had made. His wrongful discharge case just went to trial last week in Pikeville, Kentucky. West Virginia Public broadcasting did a radio story about Mr. Howard and his discharge case that mentioned Raymond's song. In fact, the radio piece featured Raymond's song both at the beginning and the end of the story. Listen below:

Whistleblower Battles for Mining Job Back


By the way, Raymond's song was based on a powerful article about Charles Scott Howard - titled "Shining A Light - How One Whistleblowing Miner Took On Big Coal" - by Dave Jamieson in The Huffington Post. Mr. Jamieson's article can be found below:

How One Whistleblowing Miner Took On Big Coal

It is amazing how current folk music can have such an impact on people's lives...!