I'm just a fan. My roots, like those of his stepdad, for sure, were those of the minimally educated, lower class workers in one of the many ethnic ghettos of the late 1800's through mid 1900's.

Utah Phillips spoke and sung passionately about that working man and the people with even less. America's big shoulders has been built on that willingness to be present, for a paycheck, and to say to any and all, we are all here and we are all equal. Nobody can take advantage of us for long. We are the people. As has been written, U Utah Phillips said that every time he walked on stage or appeared in public.

While there are many a magnificent songwriter and singer during his time, less than a handful would talk to us about being an American, and American worker, IWW, sharing and leading the way forward.

No other performer opened my mind to what were foreign concepts and are now part of the fiber of who I am and what I represent.