Jon Fromer is an award-winning singer/songwriter whose music is a special blend of folk, blues and country that has been at the center of movements for peace and social change in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades. Jon is known for his rich soulful voice, rhythmic guitar style, and poetic lyrics that capture the human condition.
I have known Jon for years. He is one of those people who is quiet and self deprecating, until he straps on his Martin and starts to sing. We have played together at several union events. He is like a juke box of union songs, civil rights tunes and traditional music. Then he plays his own music--some of it very personal and touching, some of it designed to lift us above our everyday concerns, and some of it meant to cut through a bar crowd and ROCK THE HOUSE. One of his well known hits is WE DO THE WORK! Jon is a life long activist who learned his trade on the march from Selma to Montgomery; on countless picket lines; and in clubs from coast to coast. For me he is a role model-- one who uses his God given gifts in the service of humanity.
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Crossposted on UnionReview
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Fantastic pro-union video from the UK, thanks to Richie at Union Review for
turning me on to this, give to get going, I'm impressed
Link to Video
An independent filmmaker working on the fringes of Hollywood has brought us many thoughtful films. A master craftsmen he has a unique film voice that is truly American. His characters are distinctly drawn inhabiting a world just degrees off center. Below please find a couple of suggestions.
Matewan
One of those classic labor films. A story told in dark hues about our history and our present. The story of people determined to organize and the dangers they confront. Good and evil, courage and cowardice drawn in the fine lines of an old master. From the director of "Brother From Another Planet" this is the type of story that your grandfather could tell. A powerful cast including; Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Mary Mcdonall, Will Oldham and David Strathaim.
From IMDB.com:
Mingo County, West Virginia, 1920. Coal miners, struggling to form a union, are up against company operators and gun thugs; Black and Italian miners, brought in by the company to break the strike, are caught between the two forces. Union activist and ex-Wobbly Joe Kenehan, sent to help organize the union, determines to bring the local, Black, and Italian groups together. Drawn from an actual incident; the characters of Sid Hatfield, Cabell Testerman, C. E. Lively, and Few Clothes Johnson were based on real people. Written by Susan C. Mitchell {susanm@indirect.com}
Honeydripper
Another John Sayles film staring Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton and Stacy Keech and Keb Mo -- this movie rolls slowly out of it's southern past. A jook joint tale wonderfully told. The ensemble cast each drawn individually bring to bear subtle nuances that just make you smile with realness.
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