APRIL 9, 1976 – Singer/songwriter/guitarist/pianist/activist PHIL OCHS (b. December 19, 1940 in El Paso, Texas as Philip David Ochs) hung himself at his sister Sonny’s home in Queens, New York after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He was prescribed medication, and he told his sister he was taking it.Known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and distinctive voice, Ochs wrote hundreds of songs in the 1960s and ’70s and released eight albums. He performed at many political events during the 1960s counterculture era, including anti-Vietnam War and civil rights rallies, student events, and organized labor events over the course of his career, in addition to many concert appearances at such venues as New York City’s Town Hall and Carnegie Hall. Politically, Ochs described himself as a “left social democrat” who became an “early revolutionary” after the protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago led to a police riot, which had a profound effect on his state of mind.
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