19 Facts About Oscar Brand

Oscar Brand was a Canadian-born American folk singer-songwriter, radio host, and author.

Oscar Brand was born to a Jewish family in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Oscar Brand's father was a Romanian-born flooring contractor, Isidore Brand.

Oscar Brand was known for composing catchy and themed folk songs, including the eponymous theme to his initially CTV and then CBC television show Let's Sing Out and the Canadian patriotic song "Something to Sing About", which is one of Canada's national songs.

Oscar Brand was a frequent performer at the Mariposa Folk Festival during this period, including performances in 1962,1968,1969, and 1987, as well as the 50th anniversary in 2010.

Oscar Brand collaborated on a number of musicals, most notably The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N, How to Steal an Election, and A Joyful Noise.

Oscar Brand wrote the lyrics to the song "A Guy is a Guy", which became a hit for Doris Day.

Oscar Brand wrote the English lyrics to the song "Shlub-a-Dubba-Dub" which became a minor hit for Mitch Miller.

Oscar Brand contributed stories and songs for the "Young People's Records" label, including "Noah's Ark".

Oscar Brand was a friend of the folksinger Jean Ritchie for many years.

Accordingly, in June 1950, Oscar Brand was named in the premier issue of Red Channels as a Communist sympathizer, along with Paul Robeson, Josh White and Pete Seeger.

Oscar Brand told stories of buying food for Lead Belly when the two traveled together in segregated areas, and participated in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches.

Oscar Brand was one of the original organizers of the Newport Folk Festival, which began in 1959.

Oscar Brand served during the 1960s as a board member of the Children's Television Workshop and participated in the development of Sesame Street.

Oscar Brand composed the original theme and provided musical direction for the 1976 Smithsonian Institution half-hour documentary, Celebrating a Century: The 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition.

In May 1976, Oscar Brand appeared in Madison Square Garden's Felt Forum at the memorial celebration for Phil Ochs, performing Ochs' "Love Me I'm A Liberal" with updated lyrics.

Oscar Brand was given the Peabody Award for broadcast excellence in 1982 for his broadcast The Sunday Show on National Public Radio, and was awarded the Personal Peabody Award in 1995.

On January 18,2010, WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour celebrated Oscar Brand's upcoming 90th birthday and the 65th anniversary of his radio career before an audience from Lexington, Kentucky, where host Michael Johnathan and guest Josh White Jr.

Oscar Brand died of pneumonia on September 30,2016, at the age of 96.