Wikipedia

Len Chandler

Len Hunt Chandler Jr. (May 27, 1935 – August 28, 2023) was an American folk singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Chandler was known for his powerful voice and socially conscious songs.

Len Chandler
Born
Len Hunt Chandler Jr.

(1935-05-27)May 27, 1935
Akron, Ohio, U.S.
DiedAugust 28, 2023(2023-08-28) (aged 88)
San Pedro, California, U.S.
OccupationMusician

Early life and education

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Chandler was born in Akron, Ohio in 1935. He showed an early interest in music and began playing piano at age 8.[1] Studying classical music in his early teens, he learned to play the oboe so he could join the high school band,[1] and during his senior year joined the Akron Symphony Orchestra.

He eventually earned his B.A. in Music Education from the University of Akron,[1] moved to New York City,[1] and received an M.A. from Columbia University.

Career and activism

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By the early 1960s, Chandler began to get involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He sang at demonstrations and rallies and gained a reputation as a protest songwriter.[2]

One of his most famous songs was "Beans in My Ears", which was recorded by the Serendipity Singers as well as by Pete Seeger. He also served as one of the original crew members of Seeger's CLEARWATER organization, working to save the environment around the Hudson River Valley.[citation needed] Pete Seeger sang one of Chandler's songs, entitled "Run Come See the Sun", at the Sanders Theater in Boston in 1980.[3]

Chandler was also a performer in the travelling anti-war troupe F.T.A., which was organized by Jane Fonda in 1971.[4][5] With Holly Near and Rita Martinson, the group toured the United States and bases throughout the Pacific Rim. Their travels were filmed; however, the documentary was pulled from theatres a week after its release due to the controversy surrounding Fonda's visit to Hanoi.[6]

After penning topical material related to the Original Black Panther Party, Lew Irwin brought Chandler to KRLA 1110[7] to write three topical songs a day for their radio program, The Credibility Gap,[8][9] which released some of his songs, including "Soul in Ice", on their record An Album Of Political Pornography.[10] At KRLA, Chandler also wrote and recorded the short theme song "The Chronicles of Pop" for the Pop Chronicles radio program.[11][12] In the early 1970s, he formed the Alternative Chorus-Songwriters Showcase to promote new talent.[8] He moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s.

Chandler's 1964 song "Keep On Keepin' On" was used by Martin Luther King Jr. in a speech, after King's secretary saw the song in New York Broadside issue 34.[13][14][15]

Death and legacy

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Len Chandler died in San Pedro, California, on August 28, 2023, at the age of 88.[16] He was survived by his wife, Olga Adderley Chandler, widow of jazz musician Cannonball Adderley, and one son.[1]

Discography

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Genzlinger, Neil (September 14, 2023). "Len Chandler, early fixture of the folk revival, at 88". Boston Globe. pp. C10. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  2. ↑ Sullivan, Denise (April 20, 2018). Keep on Pushing: Black Power Music from Blues to Hip-hop. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 9781569769065 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ "Singalong at Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1980". Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  4. ↑ Greenspun, Roger (July 22, 1972). "Jane Fonda's 'F.T.A.' Show Now a Film". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  5. ↑ "FTA - Docurama". New Video Group. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  6. ↑ Andrew, Penelope (February 16, 2009). "Fonda, Sutherland, Streep Echo Trumbo & Brecht: FTA (1972) and Theater of War (2008)". HuffPost. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Lew Irwin Sets Record Straight on Origins of 1110/KRLA Credibility Gap" (PDF). Krlabeat.sakionline.net. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Lankford, Ronnie D.. Len Chandler at AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
  9. ↑ "~Los Angeles Radio People, Where Are They Now?". Laradio.com. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Magic of JuJu: Political Porno". Magicofjuju.blogspot.com. December 21, 2006. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Index to "Pop Chronicles"". University of North Texas Libraries. July 24, 2008. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Show 3 - The Tribal Drum: The rise of rhythm and blues. [Part 1]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. February 23, 1969. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2010 – via UNT Digital Library.
  13. ↑ High Fidelity - Volume 19, Issues 1-6 - Page 35 1969 "Len Chandler, composer-lyricist-singer- singer, whose original compositions can be heard on two Columbia albums. To Be a Man and The Lovin' People, and whose song Keep on Keepin' On was used as the text for a speech by Martin Luther King: .
  14. ↑ Denise Sullivan Keep on Pushing: Black Power Music from Blues to Hip-hop 2011 Page 52 1569769060 "Similarly soft-spoken is “Keep on Keepin' On.” “I felt very good when the Reverend Martin Luther King used the phrase 'keep ... he had learned it from his secretary who saw the song in Broadside and liked it,” wrote Chandler in the liner notes."
  15. ↑ Sing Out - Volume 16 - Page 89 1966 So I guess Pye gotta keep on keepin' on." HP The song "Keepin' On," by Len Chandler Is In New York Broadside #34 with a couple of other Len Chandler songs. Write: Broadside, 215 West 98th St., New York, N.Y., 10025. Debby Masters ..."
  16. ↑ "Len Chandler Obituary - San Pedro, CA". Neptune Cremation Service. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Len Chandler discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
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