Len Chandler

American folk singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Born May 27, 1935 in Akron, Ohio, USA. Died August 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Len Chandler was a prominent figure in the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s. His musical journey began at the University of Akron and Columbia University where he studied music. Originally an oboist, a move to New York and immersion in the Greenwich Village folk scene saw him switch to guitar. Performances at the Gaslight Cafe, the Newport Folk Festival, and the March on Washington were some of the highlights of his career. Topical songs about current events were his specialty, with subjects ranging from school bus accidents and Freedom Riders to Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination. One of his hit songs, “Beans in My Ears”, stirred controversy and was banned by some radio stations due to fears that children would imitate it. A move to Los Angeles in the late 1960s marked a new chapter in his career as he took on roles as a radio host and songwriter for a show called “The Credibility Gap”. Co-founding the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase was another significant achievement, as it helped launch the careers of many artists.