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The purpose of this blog is to review a specific broadside ballad artist and how they have affected and changed the movement or issue of which they are an integral part.  The course itself will study the role of music and its impact on numerous social and political movements.  My reasoning for choosing to take part in this course is firstly that it is required.  Secondly; however, I have never studied music in depth enough to understand that possible affects it can have.  With that said, I look forward to not only learning about the music itself, but also the movements they have helped shape.

The video I have chosen to review is that by Joe Glazer.  Known as the "labor's troubadour," Joe was very closely associated with labor unions.  His songs were designed to bring to light the struggles of the working class as well as to bring them hope and lift up their spirits.  He joined the labor movement in 1944 and for the next 50 years collected, composed, wrote and sang songs of workers, protests, politics and social commentary.  Two of his books; "Songs of War and Protest," and "Labor's Troubadour," are widely known and very popular.  Politically, he has shared platforms with numerous highly elected officials such as John F. Kennedy, Harry Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton just to name a few.

As previously stated, he was a part of the labor movement.  He success was so great that he was even invited to the White House to play for Jimmy Carter.  Later he would join the Kennedy administration as a labor information officer as part of the United States Information Agency.

To better understand Joe, you must listen to his songs.  After all, that's what he was, a song writer.  One of his more popular is "The Mill was Made of Marble," which has spread not only throughout the nation, but the world as well.   A link to this song is below and provides a free listening to this particular song.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/joe-glazer/tracks/mill-was-made-of-marble--176950053

I was particularly drawn to this artist out of the four not only because of his passion for the movement and music, but for he knowledge of music and the power one small verse has.  Throughout the interview, he kept coming back to one word: solidarity.  For Joe, the songs gave the men and the movement the solidarity it needed to stay strong and continue on.  He said you could have the best argument imaginable, but that without solidarity you have nothing.  The songs he wrote and helped bring to light were able to give this to the movement.  A few hours of singing will lift spirits for months.  Rallies may have one or two songs followed by a speaker, but the ballads spoke to the soul and not just to the mind.  This is how he viewed his songs and what they could do.  It gave the movement a much needed and special extra weapon.  It was this love, knowledge, and compassion that drew me to this particular interview.  The movement was truly lucky to have someone who did so much.