Joe Hill was born Joel Hägglund in Sweden. In 1902 he and his brother immigrated to the United States where he became a migrant laborer, moving from New York City to Cleveland and eventually to the west coast. He joined the International Workers of the World (IWW) in 1910 while working on the docks in San Pedro, California and was there for the strikes that took place against the Southern Pacific Railroad. Joe Hill played the piano - and it was during the nationwide walkout against Southern Pacific that he wrote his first labor-inspired song, “Casey Jones, Union Scab” a parody of the popular tune “The Ballad of Casey Jones.”
He rose in the Wobbly organization and traveled widely, organizing workers, writing political songs, satirical poems, drawing cartoons and writing longer more serious articles for union publications. He used the pen name “Joe Hill.” His songs usually appropriated familiar melodies from popular songs and religious hymns of the time and they were published in the Little Red Songbook, an important tool in the arsenal of union organizers throughout the country.
As a worker and organizer Hill moved all around the west often, hopping freight trains going from job to job. He was working as a laborer in a mine near Salt Lake City in 1913 when he was accused and convicted of killing two men during a grocery store hold up. The evidence was weak and his case became a cause célèbre but he still faced the firing squad on November 19, 1915. Just before he died, Hill had written to IWW leader Bill Haywood, saying, "Goodbye Bill. I die like a true blue rebel. Don't waste any time in mourning. Organize. Could you arrange to have my body hauled to the state line to be buried? I don't want to be found dead in Utah.” His wish was carried out and his cremated ashes were distributed to IWW local chapters throughout the country where they were scattered by the workers he had served.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death a special event honoring the life and music of Joe Hill will take place on Thursday, November 19th at the Blue Room Theater (above Colliers Hardware) in downtown Chico. Doors open at 6 and the show begins at 7.
Performers include Mark McKinnon, Jim Williams, Tom Reed, David Longacre, MacKenzie Zevely-Howlett, Katrina Rodriguez, Lynn Brown, Lisa Valentine, Mark Johnson, Gordy Ohliger, Laurel Paulson-Pierce, and more.
It also happens to be a Bernie Sanders benefit. Tickets are just $15. Ticket information is available thru David Guzzetti @ 532-0963 & John Howlett @ 228-1018.
