Biography
Malvina Reynolds (born Malvina Milder on August 23, 1900, in San Francisco, California) was an American folk singer-songwriter and political activist who began her musical career late in life after a diverse background in academia, social work, and manual labor. She earned a doctorate in 1939 but faced employment barriers due to the Great Depression, her Jewish heritage, socialist views, and gender, leading her to work as a social worker, columnist for People's World, assembly-line worker in a bomb factory during World War II, and co-manager of her family's naval tailor shop in Long Beach, California, following her father's death in 1944. In her late 40s, amid the post-WWII folk revival, she connected with the folk music scene in Long Beach, taking guitar lessons and writing songs inspired by social issues.[1][2][3]
Fun Facts
- While driving through Daly City in 1962, Reynolds spontaneously wrote 'Little Boxes' on the way to a gig, asking her husband to take the wheel so she could compose it.
- She appeared on Sesame Street as a folk singer named 'Kate,' winning over skeptical producers with her storytelling in just 10 minutes.
- Reynolds wrote 'Battle of Maxton Field' in 1958 the same day Lumbee Indians ran off the Ku Klux Klan at a rally in North Carolina, performing it that night.
- Her first guitar was a makeshift 'big old F-hole orange crate with a crack in the back,' which she credited with sparking her songwriting.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Earl Robinson - Guitar teacher and influential composer who taught her during People's Songs classes in Los Angeles (People's Songs organization and classes) [late 1940s]
- Pete Seeger - Folk singer she met at age 47 who inspired her to perform and write activist songs (Rallies, union meetings, and folk performances) [1947 onward]
Key Collaborators
- Pete Seeger - Frequent performer alongside and popularizer of her songs in folk circles (Covered 'Little Boxes' in 1963) [late 1940s-1970s]
- Earl Robinson - Part of the same songwriting group in Los Angeles (People's Songs Bulletin and related activities) [late 1940s]
Artists Influenced
- Joan Baez - Recorded her songs as part of the folk revival ('What Have They Done to the Rain') [1960s]
- The Seekers - Achieved commercial success with her children's song ('Morningtown Ride' (top 5 UK single in 1966)) [1960s]
- Harry Belafonte - Recorded her song, helping gain her recognition ('Turn Around') [1950s-1960s]
- Judy Collins - Included her compositions in recordings (Various folk albums) [1960s]
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #blues, #folk, #singer-songwriter
References
Heard on WWOZ
Malvina Reynolds has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 4, 2026 | 14:07 | It Isn't Nicefrom Malvina Reynolds | Homespun Americanaw/ Ol Man River |