Woody Guthrie (1912–1967) was an American folk singer-songwriter, born in Okemah, Oklahoma. He’s best known for his song "This Land Is Your Land," a folk anthem that captures the spirit of the American working class. Guthrie’s music, rooted in the struggles of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era, gave voice to the disenfranchised—farmers, laborers, and migrants. His songs blended protest, storytelling, and social commentary, often with a sharp wit and unpolished honesty. He traveled widely, hitching rides and riding freight trains, which shaped his perspective and lyrics. His output includes hundreds of songs, like "Pastures of Plenty" and "Deportee," addressing inequality, labor rights, and human dignity. Guthrie was a key influence on the folk revival of the 1940s–60s, inspiring artists like Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. He performed with the Almanac Singers, a group that promoted union causes and anti-fascist messages during WWII. Politically, Guthrie leaned left, sympathizing with socialist and communist ideals, though he wasn’t formally tied to any party. His guitar famously bore the slogan “This Machine Kills Fascists.” He wrote columns for leftist newspapers and even penned a semi-autobiographical novel, Bound for Glory. Later in life, Guthrie suffered from Huntington’s disease, a genetic disorder that progressively impaired his health, leading to his death in 1967. His legacy endures through his music, archived at places like the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, and his influence on folk, country, and protest music. His son, Arlo Guthrie, also became a notable musician.