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Canonical path: /the-orphans
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The Orphans
The Orphans formed in Kentucky in the late 1970s around singer-songwriter Tom Gillam and multi-instrumentalist Richard Bailey. They worked in a bluegrass...
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Curated by Ethan Walker
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The Orphans formed in Kentucky in the late 1970s around singer-songwriter Tom Gillam and multi-instrumentalist Richard Bailey. They worked in a bluegrass style that drew from Appalachian folk traditions, but with lyrics that leaned toward social commentary and protest.
Their 1984 song "For An Old Kentucky Anarchist" became something of a signature piece, with lyrics that criticized class exploitation and state authority. The song drew attention from conservative critics and faced some censorship, but the band kept playing it at their live shows.
They released several albums through the 1980s and early 1990s, including "Sowing the Seeds of Revolution" in 1982 and "Songs for the Working Class" in 1987. Their performances were known for being direct and politically charged, touching on environmental issues and military policy alongside more traditional folk themes.
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