Peter La Farge

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peter La Farge (born on 30th April 1931 as Oliver La Farge Albee . Died on 27. October 1965 in New York City ) was an American folk - singer , guitarist and songwriter .

biography

He was born in 1931 as the son of the anthropologist Oliver La Farge (1901-1963), who became known as the author of the novel Laughing Boy . Peter La Farge became popular especially with its songs about the injustices and tragedies in which North American Indians during the colonization of the Americas suffered by the Europeans. He heard the relevant stories from his father, with whom, however, there were later arguments, whereupon he changed his first name to Peter.

In the Korean War , La Farge was a soldier in the US Navy and also took part in boxing matches during this time. After the war, he performed at rodeo events, often injuring himself and nearly losing a leg after an accident with a bull. After recovering, he spent two years in Chicago , where he took acting classes and married actress Suzanne Becker. He moved to New York City , where he became known as a folk singer in Greenwich Village and was able to sign a contract with Moses Asch , the founder of Folkways Records .

Although less popular, he ranks among well-known folk and country singers such as Bob Dylan , Johnny Cash , Pete Seeger and Dave Van Ronk , the first two of whom have sung and recorded some of his pieces. For example, five of Johnny Cash's songs in Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian were written by La Farge, including The Ballad of Ira Hayes, about the fate of the Pima tribe marine Ira Hayes . His songs can be found in the repertoire of many other performers.

In the wake of the success of Johnny Cash, La Farge got a contract with MGM Records and was planning a new album there. In October 1965 he was found dead in his friend Inger Nielsen's New York apartment; possibly he died of a Thorazine overdose . He was buried in Fountain, Colorado , where he grew up with his single mother. Peter La Farge's songs continue to be released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings in Washington, DC .

Publications

  • 1962 Ira Hayes and Other Ballads
  • 1962 Iron Mountain and Other Songs
  • 1963 As Long as the Grass Shall Grow: Peter La Farge Sings of the Indians . Folkways Records
  • 1963 Peter La Farge Sings of the Cowboys: Cowboy, Ranch and Rodeo Songs, and Cattle Calls
  • 1964 Peter La Farge Sings Women Blues: Peter La Farge Sings Love Songs
  • 1965 Peter La Farge on the Warpath
  • 1992 Songs of the Cowboys - Iron Mountain and Other songs . Vollersode: Bear Family Records
  • 2010 Rare Breed: The Songs of Peter La Farge

References and footnotes

  1. ↑ Including drums ( sound examples: Peter La Farge ; Johnny Cash ).

literature

  • The Ballad of Peter La Farge - 2010 documentary by Sandra Hale Schulman UPC 8-85444-39205-4

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Farge, Peter La
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Farge, Oliver Albee La
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American singer, guitarist and lyricist
DATE OF BIRTH April 30, 1931
DATE OF DEATH October 27, 1965
Place of death New York City