The Ballad of Peter LaFarge (trailer)

The untold story of protest pioneer Peter La Farge whose song Ira Hayes was a hit for Johnny Cash. La Farge was a contemporary of 1960s folkies Bob Dylan, Buffy St. Marie and Pete Seeger. This is the trailer for the full documentary produced by Sandra Hale Schulman available to stream on Prime Video.

[@sandrahaleschulman]

I am presently screening this at film fests and expanding it to a full hour for TV in the US and Canada. The short will be released as a bonus DVD with the tribute record late this year or early next. Thanks for the comment!

[@wygakyl]

I heard Peter LaFarge on a 1963 Newport Broadside LP. I will be looking into his story.

[@JefFrietkot]

There was a tiny bit of Lafarge, not singing alas, in the Dylan Scorsese BBC documentary - I was so surprised to see the man there! Can't wait to see the Ira Hayes footage... !

[@sandrahaleschulman]

I only have footage of him singing Ira Hayes, VERY rare stuff that was buried in the Lomax Archives. Yes his father was Oliver, he was NOT adopted, he was only a small part Native, and he didn't commit suicide...his story is haunting.

[@servitrad]

There is a french version of the Ballad of Ira Hayes, sung by Hugues Aufray, the title is "La Ballade d'Ira l'Indien" if I remember well...

[@sandrahaleschulman]

The Ballad of Peter La Farge will be released June 15th, 2010 through Amazon along with a tribute album, Rare Breed: The Songs of Peter La Farge and bonus music video.

[@Jm01394]

I still love Peter LaFarge

[@yachtabaco]

Oliver was his step-father. Peter professed to being Narragansett Indian, Howard Sownes wrote in his biography of Bob Dylan that in fact "no Indian blood ran through Peter's veins". He wrote great songs. If he did not commit suicide, someone should set the record straight.

[@cindyandrob]

Blueribbonhealers luvin this!

[@sandrahaleschulman]

I remember Anne-Lisse sending me your photo, yes you do resemble him. Sorry to say the film is a long way off, I am still working on clearance rights for the full documentary and getting a TV screening then national distribution. There is also a tribute record and now a music video I am working on. Films take a long time but Zeus willing it will happen some day.

[@sandrahaleschulman]

Hopefully yes, I am working out the publishing and clearance rights to release this soon

[@sandrahaleschulman]

@yachtabaco Oliver was NOT his step-father, I have the birth and death certificate to prove it and know his sister and brother. He was his biological father, Peter never said otherwise. He was adopted by the Hopi tribe in an honorary gesture and had a step-father so that is where the confusion has come from. The mother was from Naragansett Rhode Island, so more confusion. He was in pain and drinking when he died, but I doubt it was suicide, he was planning a future.

[@BlueSoulJim]

When will his albums be remastered and reissued so we can listen them?

[@sandrahaleschulman]

Smithsonian Folkways owns the masters, they are all on CD and digital. As for remastering I do not know of any plans.

[@philjohnson392]

When will this film be in HD?

[@sandrahaleschulman]

Sorry but no plans to create an HD version.

[@derekmtheriault]

#ugottacthisb4udie #PeterLaFarge #folkfestival