Did You Know...

Arlo, born in 1947 at Coney Island in New York, grew up surrounded by performers like Pete Seeger, Leadbelly, and Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Woody and friends sang with political purpose - to educate people about their rights against oppression. They sang to celebrate solidarity among common folk. Woody and his friends LIVED their songs, and Arlo breathed in this idealistic atmosphere. He gravitated to its reappearance in the 1960s hippie culture.

Playing myriad instruments - piano, harmonica, six and twelve-string guitars, more - Arlo began performing at age 13 in 'coffee houses,' appearing with the vanguard of protest musicians such as Bob Dylan, and Joan Baez.

In 1967, his own fame was launched with the hit single (and album) ALICE'S RESTAURANT. It was a lot more than a song. Based on a true incident, this is considered an important socio-cultural statement. As musical raconteur, Arlo Guthrie sings and speaks an 18 1/2 minute story recounting why he was declared psychologically unfit for the army: a trumped-up $25 fine for littering! Its humor underscored the growing alienation of America from its youth. 'Alice' was a real person who fed young hippie wanderers like Arlo. The townspeople didn't like these unkempt weirdoes with long hair - and that's really why Arlo was arrested. The song captured the clash in lifestyles spreading around the country.