Peter La Farge (1923-1965)
Peter La Farge was born in Fountain, Colorado. A man of diverse talents, La Farge was a rodeo rider, rancher, cowboy, actor, and singer. He was the adopted son of Oliver La Farge (author of the book Laughing Boy). Of Pima Indian heritage, La Farge was an outspoken advocate for American Indian rights. As Skip Weshner pointed out in his notes to Folkways 02535, during a period of intense struggle for the civil rights of African Americans, American Indians cried out for a similar voice from within their ranks, and La Farge was such a voice. Many of the songs he composed presented the Indian side of the story. At one point, La Farge served as the president of FAIR (The Federation of Indian Rights). He was a frequent contributor to Broadside and performed at many Broadside hootenannies. La Farge recorded five albums for Folkways. He committed suicide in 1965.
The Best of Broadside: 4. "The Ballad of Ira Hayes"
A Pima Indian, Ira Hamilton Hayes served in World War II and was one of the six soldiers pictured in the famous Joe Rosenthal photograph of the raising of the flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Hailed as a national hero, Hayes was feted and celebrated upon his return to the United States, even appearing in a film with John Wayne. Gradually interest died off, and Hayes found himself back in the poverty of the reservation, dying of alcoholism at age 32. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery not far from the statue that bears his likeness.
Peter La Farge. Photo by Diana Davies.
The Best of Broadside: 18. "As Long as the Grass Shall Grow"
American Indian communities have been systematically deprived of their lands -- a process begun shortly after the arrival of Europeans and continuing today. Many have lost land to large areas flooded by the construction of hydroelectric and flood-control dams. Kinzua Dam was built along the Allegheny River in western Pennsylvania and completed in 1965. It was responsible for the creation of the Allegheny Reservoir and flooding of one-third of the tribal land belonging to the Seneca tribe of the Iroquois nation, despite a 1794 treaty granting the land to the Senecas. Today, colorful travel brochures display the wonders of Kinzua, with its recreational opportunities and sparkling lake surrounded by forest. The Seneca have moved, but a gift shop now stands on the bank of the reservoir and sells Indian souvenirs. This is one of La Farge's best known songs thanks to a cover version by Johnny Cash.
Text extracted from the notes by Jeff Place accompanying The Best of Broadside.
Smithsonian Folkways recordings including Peter La Farge:
Cowboy Songs on Folkways (SFW40043)
As Long as the Grass Shall Grow (FW02532)
Iron Mountain and Other Songs (FW02531)
Pete La Farge Sings of the Cowboys (FW02533)
Pete La Farge on the Warpath (FW02535)
Pete La Farge Sings Love Songs (FW02534)
An Anthology of North American Indian and Eskimo Music (FW04541)
Broadside Ballads, Volume 1 (FW05301)
Broadside Ballads, Volume 3 (FW05303)
Broadside Ballads Volume 6 (FW05315)
New Jazz Poets (FW09751)