Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) was an American poet, born in Newark, New Jersey, and a central figure of the Beat Generation. He is known above all for Howl, first read in San Francisco in 1955 and published by City Lights in 1956. He also sang and chanted, often accompanying himself on a small Indian harmonium, and he recorded songs, blues and mantras alongside his spoken poetry. Ginsberg's songs from the early 1970s, recorded by Harry Smith, came out on Folkways in 1981 as First Blues: Rags, Ballads and Harmonium Songs.