Descendents of famous musician Woody Guthrie are joining together Friday to sing for and to support its scholarship program for kids.
The concert will feature granddaughter Sarah Lee Guthrie and her husband, Johnny Irion, and include performances from their 2009 kids' album, Go Waggaloo.
Anna Canoni, an Ossining resident and also a granddaughter of Guthrie's, will also be on hand to sing and play guitar. Kids from the center will do their own performance, as a children's choir for the opening of the night. The kids will be performing Guthrie's music, such as "This Land is Your Land," "Bling Blang," and "Little Seed."
The idea for the concert came when Canoni talked with Keri Reitman, the center's development director, about ways to raise funds.
"An opportunity to spend quality time with your family, I think is, to me is most important," said Canoni, who two children attend MKCCC. Her kids, who are 4 and 2 years old, will be among those on stage.
Canoni is excited about what MKCCC offers.
“All of their programs they have are excellent.”
In her case, the program she is most interested in is Feed Me Fresh, a garden to table program that lets kids see their food at each phase. To Canoni, it is “the most important program that they have.”
The concert comes at a key time for Guthrie's legacy, as this year marks the centennial of his birth. Reitman explained that when she learned about the centennial, she realized it was a chance both to raise funds and to promote his music.
There are also many centennial events planned this year throughout the country. They include a concert in Central Park that will be held around the time of his July 14 birthday. It will culiminate on Oct. 14 with a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Guthrie's legacy is strong locally. Canoni works for Woody Guthrie Publications, which is based in Mount Kisco and serves as a publisher for his work. It was founded in 1972 by her grandmother (and Woody's wife), Marjorie Greenblatt Guthrie.
“We maintain his creative legacy," she said.
The company is temporarily housing a collection of Guthrie's documents, which will be moved next year to a new museum in Tulsa, OK, in his home state.
“Woody’s returning home to Oklahoma,” Canoni said.
The music starts Friday, 6:30 p.m., at Chappaqua Crossing (480 N. Bedford Rd.) Tickets can be purchased at MKCCC's website.
