Larry Long singing in New Orleans with a group of people

Larry Long recording a song collectively written with residents from the 9th Ward of New Orleans through his Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song program in partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Author Studs Terkel called Long “a true American Troubadour.” When Pete Seeger was told that Larry is often referred to as the Pete Seeger of Minnesota, Pete replied, “I would be honored to be called the Larry Long of New York.”

“Out of muteness, silence, and pain there comes a song. It rises from the earth, the exploitation, work, and sorrow of the people. It rises from struggle kept alive in our wonderful multiplicity and sounds the tenderness of our solidarity. Bird song, people’s songs, from struggle and death, from the lost and gone and mute, out of the corpse of our death we sing.

Then our joyous singer like Larry Long begins to come where we are working, where we are living, and listens, repeats like a mockingbird, or notes of nightingales or meadowlarks, makes songs out of the first and last breath. He sings where we are, about what is happening. He takes the real sound, the real words and gives us back our songs and we hear what singers we all are and how beautiful, and how strong.”  —Meridel Le Sueur, American Author & Poet

Songs of Freedom, Freight Trains & Hope

American Roots Revue Returns to the Dakota for 2 Shows , Friday, January 3, 2025. Let us gather with friends and family to bring in the New Year with the […]

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Larry Long & Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott 2024 Reunion Tour

Larry Long and Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott have come back together with bassist Larry Dalton for this 2024 Reunion Tour to celebrate five-decades of friendship.

It Takes a Lot of People by Larry Long & Children of Oklahoma

Okemah, Oklahoma’s first tribute for Woody Guthrie will be available on digital platforms worldwide on July 14, 2024.  The first tribute took place on December 1, 1988 at the historic […]

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Songs of Freedom, Freight Trains & Hope

American Roots Revue Returns to the Dakota for 2 Shows , Friday, January 3, 2025.

Let us gather with friends and family to bring in the New Year with the soaring vocals of Robert Robinson,the passionate violin of Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott, the inspiration of Billy Steele, the soulful presence of Tonia Hughes Kendrick and the heartfelt songs of Larry Long.

“’Songs of Freedom, Freight Trains & Hope’ will lift your spirits and serve you a warm cup of goodness that will last far beyond the holidays,” says Long, bandleader and creator of the American Roots Revue. “Come join us.”

Show Times: 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. | For Tickets: www.dakotacooks.com | Dakota Box Office: 612-332-5299

Larry Long, guitar, vocals | Robert Robinson, vocals | Tonia Hughes Kendrick, vocals | Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott, violin, guitar, vocals | Billy Steele, piano | Larry Dalton, bass | Daryl Boudreaux, percussion | Joe Savage, dobro, banjo, pedal steel

It Takes a Lot of People by Larry Long & Children of Oklahoma

Okemah, Oklahoma’s first tribute for Woody Guthrie will be available on digital platforms worldwide on July 14, 2024.  The first tribute took place on December 1, 1988 at the historic Crystal Theatre in Okemah.  This album is a live recording of that event.   It contains works by Guthrie, as well as songs collectively written by Larry Long and children of Oklahoma.

The event played before a full house which included Guthrie’s sister, Mary Jo Edgmon, who wrote, “I felt the warmth of my family all around me. Clara, Roy, Woody, George, Papa and Mama. They, too, all sat in this very theater many years ago. When the children came marching down the aisle and onto the stage, I swelled with pride and the tears came. I knew Woody was watching.”

Besides Larry Long and seventy school children from Okemah, Langston, and Davenport, Oklahoma there was banjo virtuoso Alan Munde, “Fiddlin’ Pete” Watercott, gospel pianist Shirley Davis, Woodrow (Wotko) Haney and  Olen Edwards.  This was not only the first time that an African American Choir had ever graced the stage of the Crystal Theatre, but that Woody Guthrie’s words were spoken in both the Seminole & Creek language.

As a result of Long’s work in Okemah, an organization known as W.O.O.D.Y. (Woody Guthrie Okemah Organization for Developing Youth) was born. Founding members included Okemah residents Carolyn Price, Dr. Larry and Vicki McKinney, Lois Tanner, Mark Smyth, Shari Parks, Bobby Massey, and Mike and Wilma Lambeth. The organization’s goal was to hold an annual event to not only honor Woody Guthrie, but to also raise funds for the education of local youth. This organization eventually transitioned into the Woody Guthrie Coalition Inc.

One of the featured songs on this collection, which was collectively written with Okemah youth, entitled “Okemah Waltz” became Okemah’s official town song on November 12, 2012 by a unanimous vote of the Okemah City Council.

Plans are presently in the works for Larry Long & the Children of Oklahoma to have a reunion in 2025 during the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival.

The entirety of It Takes a Lot of People can also be downloaded on Larry’s Bandcamp site.

 

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