by Jim Cook
Utah Phillips (May 15, 1935 - May 23, 2008) and the Long Memory by Jim Cook, Portland Labor Activist and General Strike band member
Like train whistles echoing often in the the Columbia River Gorge, so are thoughts of Utah Phillips. But the westbound BN-SF freight train that passed through the Columbia River Gorge at Skamania on that Spring afternoon a year ago seemed to carry the spirit of folk singer and friend, Bruce “Utah” Phillips. Why not, since I was enroute to his June 1, 2008 memorial service in Nevada City, CA. The news of Utah Phillips’ death, just days after his 73rd birthday, hit the world hard. It seemed especially poignant receiving the sad news at the 2008 Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle. Amazingly, the festival featured a long-planned tribute concert, and it was the same night of his passing.
Our band, General Strike, performed labor and social justice songs there May 24th. Afterward, I listened to a phone message. It was Jimmy Kelly, a Santa Cruz, CA labor educator and singer. In 1987 he started the annual Western Workers Labor Heritage Festival held in the San Francisco area. There I saw Utah several tiimes. Once I photographed Utah Phillips interviewing Pete Seeger in the late 1990’s. The phone message said, “Brother Bruce Utah Phillips has left us and is singing with Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie, and Mother Jones.” Memories of Utah’s striking appearance, captivating voice and truth-laden songs echo through the universe, and fortunately preserved through many recordings. Check out the Utah Phillips website maintained by his son, Duncan.
For some of us dealing with death is tough. Though bracing for years, family and friends forever mourn. Each always hoping for another heartfelt conversation, or concert filled with radical songs, stories of wisdom and humor, or hilarious rants against the bosses and their politicians. We now dealt with death’s reality. Utah Phillips’ congestive heart disease, which he valiantly fought for more than a decade, restricted the singing hobo’s traveling. Known worldwide, those touched by his love for life, liberty, and social justice, understand Utah Phillip’s rebel spirit, like Solidarity, is now global.
Nevada City, his beloved hometown in the Sierra-Nevada foothills, held a public memorial last year on June 1st. Knowing Utah’s keen interest in baseball (not major league), the little league baseball field felt a perfect location to bid our comrade farewell and console each other. Banjo music greeted as the stage was set behind home plate. The entire infield, outfield, and bleachers filled quickly with family, friends, and local community. Genny Nelson, of Portland’s Sisters of the Road, was there. Also, there were IWW fellow workers and radical labor singers from many places. On this glorious spring morning, Utah Phillip’s life celebration opened with the ceremonial “first pitch” by local little leaguers.
Many remember Utah’s baseball passion, his music and stories of working class struggle and courage, folk music with message and oral histories shared. With smiles and tears, we listened as family and friends shared insights of an amazing character and mentor to many. He cherished life, and had many pursuits including family, poetry, folk music, labor history, the IWW, trains, tramping, gardening, well, you get the idea. We laughed together retelling Utah’s stories and countless practical jokes. Closing with Utah’s powerful ‘Hymn Song,’ together, as in one big union, we sang through our hard time. Though we miss his on stage soapboxing, we shall never forget Bruce Utah Phillips.
A Utah Phillips Tribute Concert was held November 14, 2008 at the Laurelthirst Public House. Musicians included Mark Ross, Casey Neill, Fast Rattler (with Utah’s son Brendan Phillips), Dick Weissman, Melinda Pittman, and General Strike. A packed house joined in the rabble-rousing music, stories, humor and long memories.
For more information contact Jim Cook at 503-703-1693 or radrosepro@gmail.com
