Sometime during the mid-1950s I met Guy Carawan at a songfest in Seattle. I'd never heard of him before, but like many others back then he was sort of barnstorming around the country, meeting and singing with people. He and a half-dozen of Seattle's folk singing crew, including me, spent a pleasant afternoon chatting and swapping many songs. Great voice, guitar and banjo, and great songs.   

After hearing me sing (I'd only been at it for three of four years), he made some suggestions for songs he thought I might be able to do particularly well. I followed his suggestions, tracked down the songs and learned them, and they turned out to be some of the most requested songs in my repertoire. Thanks, Guy!

Then a couple of years later (1957 or 58), on his way back from a tour of China following the Moscow Youth Festival in 1957, he sang a concert at Eagleson Hall in Seattle. Great concert, and the place was packed (even if the U.S. State Department was spitting sparks!).

Then again, sometime in the 1980s, I met him again at a house concert at the late John Ross's house. Great songs well sung, including a few of Woody Guthrie's children's songs for a couple of youngsters present. Again, the afternoon was a real treat.

I've always admired Guy for his great singing and for his dedication to the betterment of humanity. One of the true Nature's Noblemen….

I could say that the world is a bit dimmer now, but I don't think so. His light still shines.

Don Firth