In February of 2008, at a musician’s gathering in Maine, folk musicians Dan Schatz, Kendall Morse and Jacqui Morse began talking about a CD to celebrate the life and music of Utah Phillips.  Within weeks dozens had joined in, and what began as a homegrown fundraiser quickly became a double CD with a variety of performers – some very well known, others new to most listeners. Some of the world’s most respected folksingers donated or recorded songs by and for Utah including Emmylou Harris and Mary Black, Pete Seeger, Rosalie Sorrels, Tom Paxton, Jean Ritchie, John McCutcheon, Magpie, Gordon Bok, Emma’s Revolution, Ani DiFranco and many others.

Utah had been ill for some time when the project began, and unfortunately died in May of 2008. “It was a blow to lose Utah,” said Schatz. “It gave the project a wistful feeling, knowing that he would never hear the result of so much love, or hold the CDs in his own hands. We do know that he was very pleased and excited about what was going on. It meant a lot to him that his songs would continue to live for years to come.”