Woody Guthrie Remembered in Mt. Kisco with Music & Movement

Woody Guthrie's legacy is alive in Mount Kisco, where kids have been able to experience his work before his upcoming centennial.

On Friday, children at the got to act out recordings that included the famous musician's lyrics, whether through pounding hands to the tune of "Bling Blang" or running around the room to a rendition of "Race You Down the Mountain."

The music and movement event was organized by one of Guthrie's granddaughters, Anna Canoni. She is also the events and publicity director for Woody Guthrie Publications, which is and oversees pushing his works.

“I felt as a parent that Woody was such a role model in parenting, which is not often heard or quoted," said Canoni, who grew up in Chappaqua and now lives in Ossining. By Canoni's side were her daughters, 4 and a half-year-old Kaylee and 2-year-old Alexis, who got a chance to partake in the exercises.

Guthrie had a strong bond with his kids, explained Canoni, who he spent time with at home while his wife (and Canoni's grandmother), Marjorie Greenblatt Guthrie would be teaching at the Martha Graham Dance Company.

“All of these songs were created with his children, either to get them to do something or in acknowledgment of what they’re putting out to him," she said.

Canoni added, “He really respected children. He didn’t talk down to them. He treated them like people and he listened to what they had to say.”

The idea of teaming up with the library had been a thought for a while, explained Canoni. Ever since Guthrie's archives collection was brought to Mount Kisco from Manhattan - it will be moved again next year to a museum in Oklahoma, where he is from - there has been correspondance between the two sides.

The event was a good experience for Mount Kisco resident Sally Sullivan, who brought her 4-year-old daughter, Emily.

“We thought it was wonderful fun," she said. "We really enjoyed the music and Emily had fun singing and dancing. It was a really good time.”

“This was great," said Leo Sposato, a Mount Kisco resident who brought his 2 and a half-year-old daughter, Isabella. While he explained they came for the music program at the library, it was “a super surprise" and a “really excellent learning opportunity.”

The music and movement celebration is one of several local events that coincide with Guthrie's centennial, which is July 14. Last month, Canoni and her cousin Sarah Lee Guthrie for to support its scholarship program. Canoni's children also attend MKCCC.

Concurrently running at the library is an exhibit in the lobby that showcases some sample drawings of Guthrie's. The visuals are from the Strokes of Electricity art exhibit, according to Canoni, and they will be on display for the rest of July. The full exhibit itself will run from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31 at the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough, NH.

Guthrie's family has several major centennial events planned for the rest of this year. They include a concert with Arlo Guthrie and relatives on July 15 at Central Park, a tribute concert on Sept. 8 at Penn State and an Oct. 14 tribute at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. For the full events list, click here for the centennial website.