August 1: Ramblin’ Jack Elliott

Folksinger Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (Elliott Charles Adnopoz) was born as a Jewish surgeon’s son in Brooklyn on this date in 1931. He ran away from home at age 15 to join a rodeo and has led a storied life ever since, especially as a devoted student of and collaborator with Woody Guthrie, whose songs and style Elliott helped transmit to Arlo Guthrie and Bob Dylan, among other musicians. Elliott was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1998 and won Grammy Awards in 1995 and 2009.

“I was born on a 45,000-acre ranch in the middle of Flatbush.” —Ramblin’ Jack Elliott

Watch The Ballad of Ramblin’ Jack, the 2000 documentary made by Jack’s daughter, Aiyana (Hulu lets you watch the entire documentary for free provided it show you some ads every 15 minutes or so).