STILL FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT
When the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963, the musicians who opened for him were Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Odetta, Mahalia Jackson and a trio known as Peter, Paul and Mary, who popularized Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” for the masses, reaching No. 2 and winning a Grammy.
When Peter asked Paul to bless his nuptials, Paul wrote his most famous song, “Wedding Song (There Is Love),” which is arguably one of the most beautiful songs — both lyrically and melodically — of the 20th century. The publishing on that tune alone could’ve made Noel Paul Stookey a millionaire. Yet, righteous to the core, a disciplined lifelong activist for a host of civil rights and anti-war causes, he gave it all away and didn’t receive a dime — on purpose. That kind of commitment is more than rare. It’s unheard of. Pete Seeger had it. Woody Guthrie had it. Noel Paul Stookey has it.
As if to double-down on his unerring complicity to better the world in which he lives, Stookey, 83, has self-released Just Causes, an absolutely gorgeous album of 15 songs about 15 topics, with each song benefitting a like-minded charity.
GOLDMINE: You devoted all of the royalties for “Wedding Song (There Is Love)” to charity?
You didn’t know that? I was