Folksinger Gilbert Vandine “Cisco” Houston was born in Wilmington, Delaware on August 18, 1918. Houston is probably best-known for his work with Woody Guthrie, but he also performed with artists like Lead Belly and the Almanac Singers.
Houston had a great voice and was a wonderful interpreter of traditional songs and folk songs written by others. But he also wrote some songs and worked for good causes with Guthrie, touring migrant camps and supporting workers’ rights.
Houston died at a relatively young age from stomach cancer in California on April 29, 1961. Below Houston sings “The Preacher and the Slave (Pie in the Sky),” a song written by activist and songwriter Joe Hill.
Although Cisco Houston is not remembered as well as some of his contemporaries, he has always been respected by other folk singers.
Houston is referenced in a number of songs, including Steve Earle’s “Christmas in Washington (Come Back Woody Guthrie).” In that song, Earle laments, “To listen to the radio / You’d think that all was well / But you and me and Cisco know / It’s going straight to hell.”
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