Guy Carawan Dies: Beloved Folk Singer Was 87-Years Old
From the archive: published May 8, 2015, 11 years ago. Details may have changed since.
Guy Carawan has died at the age of 87. The beloved folk singer was best known for his rendition of We Shall Overcome, which became the anthem of the American civil rights movement.
Although the origin of the popular song remains unknown, it is believed to be an adaptation of the hymn “I’ll Overcome Some Day . ” As reported by Los Angeles Times, the hymn was written by Philadelphia Pastor Charles Tindley in the early 1900s.
The NYT obituary for Guy Carawan, who taught a generation to overcome in song http://t.co/1txOcx7Slv pic.twitter.com/a7XD7njYcQ
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 8, 2015
In the late 1950s, the original hymn was rewritten and renamed by Pete Seeger. The new version also included an additional verse, which was written by a young civil rights activist.
According to legend, Mary Ethel Dozier, 13, wrote the “we are not afraid” verse during a raid at Highlander Folk School — which she witnessed.
Guy Carawan first performed We Shall Overcome on April 15, 1960, during a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee meeting. As he recorded the performance, and distributed it amongst activists, the song went on to become the anthem of the civil rights movement.
Guy Carawan – #folksinger who brought We Shall Overcome to #CivilRights Movement – dies http://t.co/ripWJf0kHS pic.twitter.com/ymbvhYA7tB
— Karen E Q Miller (@KarenEQmiller) May 8, 2015
Carawan’s version of We Shall Overcome was prominently featured during civil rights demonstrations and at the funerals of civil rights leaders.
Georgia Congressman John Lewis previously served as a leader in the civil rights movement. He discusses the importance of the song during the 1960s.
“It is one of the most powerful, at the same time, sacred moment when we would say ‘we shall overcome,’ especially if you had been beaten and arrested and jailed… and the group just stands there and sings together… It gave you a sense of faith, a sense of strength to continue to struggle, to continue to push on.”
A graduate of Occidental College and UCLA, Guy Carawan was a strong supporter of the civil rights movement. He was also a musician and the author of several books.
Peter Dreier–Remembering Guy Carawan: The Man Who Popularized ‘We Shall Overcome’ http://t.co/ULl3HHidvD via @thenation
— Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) May 8, 2015
Guy Carawan died at his Tennessee home on May 2, after a long-term battle with dementia. As reported by Winnipeg Freepress, he is survived by his wife Candie, daughter Heather, and son Evan.