NORA GUTHRIE

PRESIDENT | Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc.
PRESIDENT | Woody Guthrie Foundation
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR | Woody Guthrie Archives

Nora Guthrie graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 1971. Following a career in modern dance Nora began working with her father’s materials in 1992.

Based on her intimate connection to her father’s ideas and ideals, Nora brings a refreshing interpretation of his work and a new understanding of his legacy.

In 1994, Nora co-founded the Woody Guthrie Archives with Harold Leventhal and archivist Jorge Arevalo. In addition to managing the Archives and preserving her father’s personal materials and original creative works, Ms. Guthrie develops and produces new projects which continue to expand Woody Guthrie's cultural legacy.

Her first project, in 1992, was the publication of a lost songbook of Woody’s original lyrics and illustrations, Woody’s 20 Grow Big Songs. Nora co-produced the accompanying album with her brother Arlo Guthrie, which received a Grammy nomination.

In 1996, Ms. Guthrie co-produced the first ever Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Tribute series honoring Woody Guthrie, Hard Travelin': The Life and Legacy of Woody Guthrie. Main events consisted of a scholarly symposium held at Case Western Reserve University and a tribute concert in Cleveland’s famed Severance Hall. Among the many artists that participated in the tribute weekend were; Bruce Springsteen, Jorma Kaukonen, Indigo Girls, Billy Bragg, Joe Ely, David Pirner, Tim Robbins, Alejandro Escovedo, Ani DiFranco and Arlo Guthrie and many others. Ani DiFranco produced the live CD Til We Outnumber ‘Em, which was released on her label Righteous Babe Records.

In 1998, Ms. Guthrie was executive producer of the ground breaking Billy Bragg/Wilco collaboration Mermaid Avenue and Mermaid Avenue Volume II. These landmark albums, creating new music to previously unknown Guthrie lyrics, received critical acclaim and Grammy nominations in 1999 and 2001 respectively.

In 1998 Nora worked with folk artist Kathy Jakobsen to create the children’s book This Land is Your Land which illustrates and highlights Guthrie’s classic lyric. Now in its third printing, This Land has won numerous awards and literary praise.

Additionally, in 1998 Ms. Guthrie curated the first major exhibit This Land Is Your Land: The Life and Legacy of Woody Guthrie in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The exhibit opened in May 2000 at the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles and toured for three years at major museums throughout the country. This extensive exhibit presented previously unseen original Guthrie materials including notebooks and diaries, artworks, lyrics, photographs, instruments and memorabilia giving a rare and intimate look into the life and legacy of Woody Guthrie.

In 2003, Nora co-produced a month-long celebration of Woody’s life and legacy in Nashville, TN. Programs included public school events, lectures, gallery exhibits, film screenings, concerts, and an exhibit at Nashville’s Songwriters Hall of Fame. The month-long tribute culminated with Nashville Sings Woody! a concert held at the Ryman Auditorium featuring local and international musicians. Among the many performers paying tribute were Marty Stewart, Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Janis Ian, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Tim O’Brien, Alison Brown, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Corey Harris, and Arlo Guthrie.

In 2004, Nora collaborated with Berlin composer and performer, Hans-Eckardt Wenzel on the innovative Ticky Tock. Released in both English and German languages, this CD continued to explore new avenues for Woody’s lyrics and ideas. Ticky Tock received The German Record Critics' Award in 2003.

Woody Guthrie ArtWorks, co-edited and designed by Steven Brower, is one of Nora’s newest projects, one that holds a special place in her heart as well as being a significant aspect of her father’s legacy. For decades Guthrie’s vast trove of artwork has remained virtually unknown and unexplored. With art his long time muse, this new publication highlights Woody Guthrie as a visual artist.

Taking yet another unusual turn, Ms. Guthrie recently worked with the world renowned klezmer band The Klezmatics, exploring Woody Guthrie’s Jewish themed lyrics. Members of the Klezmatics composed music for Woody’s Hanuka lyrics for Happy Joyous Hanukkah, their 2004 holiday CD release. Wonder Wheel, a second recording of previously unknown lyrics, focusing on Woody’s NYC experience, was released on July 25, 2006, which subsequently won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Album of the Year. Exploring this unique collaboration, Holy Ground: The Yiddish Connection is a multi-media lecture program which Nora is currently presenting.

Over the years, Nora has created many surprising collaborations and inspired many new recordings of both known and unknown Guthrie lyrics. The long list of richly diverse artists now include; Alison Krauss + Union Station, Janis Ian, Jimmy LaFave, Ellis Paul, John McCutcheon, Slaid Cleaves, Eliza Gilkyson, James Talley, Red Dirt Rangers, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Taj Mahal, Cissy Houston, Kim Wilson, Corey Harris, Joel Rafael, Lila Downs, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Dropkick Murphys, Anti-Flag, Blackfire, Zombie-Joe, and international stars John Mellencamp and Joe Perry.

Nora's worked with Jonatha Brooke on her album The Works. "I met with Jonatha in the Archives to begin looking over some possible lyrics for her to work with. I had found a wonderfully sexy lyric, "All You Gotta Do is Touch Me", and somewhat mischievously showed it to her to get a reaction. She loved it! From then on, we were on the same wavelength. We also discovered that we had both been dancers, so I suspected that her music would be uniquely rhythmic, maybe even ... oh god, dance-able! For the first time ever a woman has composed, arranged, produced and performed a complete album of Woody Guthrie songs. The gods must be shaking their heads, " 'bout time!""

Jonatha's magic team included Steve Gadd on drums, Christian McBride on bass, and guest appearances by Greg Leisz, Keb Mo, Derek Trucks, Eric Bazilian and Glen Phillips. They are each gorgeous in their additions. The album was engineered and co-producing by the legendary Bob Clearmountain. The album was released in August 2008 to rave reviews!

Nora's next CD release is titled "Note of Hope". In this project, Nora worked with Rob Wasserman, exploring Woody Guthrie’s poetry and prose. Special guests on the project include: Jackson Browne, Ani DiFranco, Michael Franti, Nellie McKay, Tom Morello, Van Dyke Parks, Madeleine Peyroux, Lou Reed, Pete Seeger, Studs Terkel, Tony Trischka, Chris Whitley. Release date is September 27, 2011, on 429 Records. Click here for more information and listen to Jackson Browne's track, You Know The Night.

NORA’S UPCOMING PROJECTS:

Nora is currently co-producing a year-long celebration to honor Woody's Guthrie's Centennial in 2012. www.Woody100.com

Nora is also working on a CD project with Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker and Yim Yames titled "New Multitudes" scheduled to be released in January 2012, using Woody's unpublished lyrics and diary writings.

Nora is collaborating with Austin musician, Jimmy LaFave, on a new album focusing on Woody’s country western and rock-a-billy styled lyrics.

Nora is also working on a Woody Guthrie Publications / Woody Guthrie Archives project. My Name Is New York: A Guide To Folksinger Woody Guthrie's Residences in New York City from 1940-1967. Click here to view the website.

COMPLETE PROJECT LISTING: