Monday, June 2, 2008

Hello,
Thank you all for the letters and phone calls. I have just returned to our home in Salt Lake. I will update the blog over the next few days. Dad would want me to describe the service and memorial for his many friends that could not attend, it was beautiful.
Duncan

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Duncan; Please don't make yourself scarce!Your words mean a lot to us folks out here. Thank you!!! Keith Bednar

tbk said...

Just want to say how much I appreciated and loved your dad. Been listening to my albums (yes, round plastic things that turn) at home and "Good Though" CD in the car and people driving by probably think I'm nuts cause I can't help laughing every single time about the plastic surgeons who worked for months putting together that mule's ass and that man's hat -- was he referring to Nixon? Hm. Nothing's changed.
Anyway, just wanted to add my two cents. I just wrote a travel blog about a steam engine that rolled into San Diego on Sunday. At the end, I dedicated it to good ol' U Utah Phillips.
Here's the link: http://matadortravel.com/travel-blog/united-states/tinakafka/the-shiny-black-engine-that-could-and-did

Thanks,
Tina Kafka

greentangle said...

I'm a couple weeks late learning this sad news. I'll always remember a great chat I had with Utah in Harvard Square years ago. His stories and songs were wonderful, but his caring made him even better. A whole lot of people will never forget him.

Other Adam said...

I just wanted to pass along my condolences for your loss.

Your father was always able to make me laugh and cry. I was introduced to his albums through my sister (we bonded over his work actually) and instantly fell in love with the stories and songs.

I saw him at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago as I finished my first year of college and it is night that I will always vividly remember. Alternating between tearing up, uproariously laughing, and chanting along with the songs (when told), the evening will always hold a special place in my heart. I found out about your father's passing while looking to see if he would be in Chicago again anytime soon.

Your father was a wonderful infleuence in my life. My best wishes to your family.

Adam

Brad Riesau said...

I played Bruce's I HAD A MULE on July 4th at a beautiful outdoor gig and I hadn't sung it since the late 70s so I searched online for the words which I never came up with.

But, alas, I read the news of his passing and I was saddened greatly and almost immediately filled with great joy of having not only expereinced his incredible rapport as a member of an audience numerous times over the years but also touched personally by his grace and sincerity as a human being.

I was a young college student at SDSU in the late 70s and was on the Cultural Arts Board that worked with San Diego folk supporter Lou Curtiss to book what was a gem of a little annual Folk Festival.

The first year I was involve Utah was one of the headliners and after speaking with him briefly before one of the afternoon workshops I was completely taken with the direct and passionate focus he had with each and every person he met as well as his inate ability to touch folks on a very personal but universal level whether conversing casually or in the spotlight onstage.

Also on the bill was Kate Wolf who was as gracious as a person could be to an enamored guitar player (me) who was scrawling down lyrics to tunes as she sang and had the audacity to ask her if they were correct as she came off stage. She was sweet enough to offer to show me the chords right then and there. The song was A LEGEND IN HIS TIME which on hearing it now seems to fit Bruce as well.

In the years since, I have worked as a publicist for many fine musicians including Willie Nelson who I have also seen this kind of graciousness and connection on a one-to-one basis with his fans. And I always recalled the first time I ever saw the wall between stage and audience fall away, when I first realized thru Utah and Kate that the reason these great talents were so magnificent was that they were just good folks like the rest of us; folks with families, folks that cared about other people, folks that spent their time sharing good thoughts and good messages and good sense with other good folks.

Here's to good folks.

Neil App Jones said...


A Warm-Welsh-Welcome to you and your family Duncan.....!

I am privleged yet very saddened to have just come across the achievements of your precious father, "Utah" Phillips; so sorry that I have arrived at your Blog to find that your much lamented father has arisen to the heavens. I am sorry

You must be very, very proud of his heart warming decency and principled humanitarianism. I only a few hours ago discovered your dad in a huge publication by Doring Kingsley; Music, the definitive music history under the Protest Music section! An "Utah Saint!!

May I ask Duncan? Have you traced your family roots back to the Celtic-Brythonic-Welsh, the original inhabitants of what is now called Britain? I would love to know kind sir!

May I therefore wish you and your family, long, inspiring and pleasant memories from your fathers musical legacy!!

Diolch

yours Respectfully

Neil