Arlo Guthrie turns any song he likes into his own

4/27/2006

Arlo Guthrie performs at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Ritz Theatre, 30 South Washington St., Tiffin. Tickets, $16, $26, $36, and $51, are available from the box office. Information: 419-448-8544 or www.ritztheater.org.

Arlo Guthrie will sing old favorites and new tunes at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Ritz Theatre in Tiffin.

It's his Alice's Restaurant Massacree 40th Anniversary Tour, pegged to the 18-minute song he wrote in 1965 that was a satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft.

Guthrie, who has cascades of curly white locks, is also a fine storyteller and witty political commentator. He'll sing "Alice's Restaurant," accompanied by his son, Abe Guthrie, on keyboards and vocals, and Gordon Titcomb on steel, mandolin, and banjo. Among his most popular songs are "The Motorcycle Song" and "Coming Into Los Angeles."

"Some people think a folk singer is someone who just sings their own songs," he has said. "That's a shame. It's like being of the tradition, rather than in it. I've taught myself to make any song I like, my own."

Guthrie, 58, tours, composes, raises money for charities, and operates Rising Son Records with his children, including Cathyaliza and Annie. Daughter Sarah Lee also performs. He recorded a double-CD, "Live in Sydney," in June, 2004, in Australia.

He's the son of Woody Guthrie ("This Land is Your Land") and Marjorie Mazia Guthrie, a professional dancer with the Martha Graham Company.