When Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed in 1968, memorials occurred all over the country. While still a sophomore at Whittier College, I was asked to put together a program for the colleges weekly convocation about War and Peace. I asked my friend and fellow student, Tim Clott, and my girlfriend (later wife, later ex-wife) Jan Stirling, to join me in the hour-long presentation. We sang a number of songs including Down By the Riverside and Phil Ochss I Aint Marching Anymore, recited several poems, and Tim and I performed The War Prayer by Mark Twain. A couple of months later, when The City of Whittier was organizing their memorial tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, I was asked to perform a song for the occasion. I chose Ochss When Im Gone. Nearly 40 years later I sang it at the memorial service for our Great Aunt, Pearl Evans, who died at 102. The song is perhaps the finest, yet gentlest call to action I have ever heard, thoroughly fitting as a summation of the life of dedication of Pearl Evans, Phil Ochs, and especially of Dr. Martin Luther King. (https://youtube/watch?v=PNp1kqnRw-U
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 18:23:30 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015