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Community Corner

Sing out the News! A Social History of the Broadside Ballad

The Ash Grove Foundation presents
modern broadside balladeers Ross Altman and Len Chandler in, “Sing Out the
News: A Social History of Broadside Ballads” at the Silver Lake Branch of the
Los Angeles Public Library on Saturday, February 22nd from 2:30 to
4:30 PM; 2411 Glendale Blvd, LA 90039; (323) 913-7451. Free and open to the
public.


In the days
before radio and television, news was broadcast by word of mouth.  Often the word became lyrics, and the voice
became song.  In Britain, Ireland and
North America these songs were called Broadside

Ballads
.  The centuries-long
tradition of the broadside ballad may be swamped by the current mass media
bombardment of infotainment and talking heads. 
But in this brief encounter at the public library the audience will
learn the history and hear the musical tradition that is still an integral part
of the peoples’ response to the news and events of the day.

Ross Altman traded his professorship in English Literature for a life as a political
folksinger and music historian of left movements.  If there’s been a cause
that needed a song, Ross has been on the spot with lyric and tune. 

Writing in traditions ranging from Woody Guthrie to Tom Paxton, this
“singer-songfighter’s” songs always have something to say.

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Len Chandler is a singing hero of
the Civil Rights and Anti-War movements. 

He sang with Joan Baez and Bob Dylan at the historic March on
Washington, fifty years ago, in 1963. His song, “Green, Green Rocky Road”, can
be heard today in the film, “Inside Llewyn Davis.”  
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