The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 at a time when Americans needed an environmental wake up call. Cars with gas guzzling V8 engines crowded the highways. Unregulated factory smoke stacks spewed tons of poisonous gases into the air and waterways.
One of the heroes on my new American Heroes #4 album indirectly played an important role in the creation of Earth Day.
Rachel Carson (1907-1964), “Voice for the Earth,” was an author and scientist whose courage, selfless spirit, and sense of wonder inspired the modern environmental movement. Her books about nature helped people realize our interconnectedness with the world of plants and animals. In 1951, her book The Sea Around Us was published. It remained on The New York Times best-seller list for 81 weeks and was translated into 32 languages. In 1962, Carson wrote Silent Spring, a book that spoke courageously about the irresponsible use of poisonous chemicals. Though powerful chemical companies labeled her an alarmist, her book awakened millions of people to the importance of caring for the planet. In 1980, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, was awarded in her memory.
“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” —Rachel Carson
Silent Spring started a movement that included not only the first Earth Day, but also the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. My song (co-written with Dave Kinnoin) about Rachel Carson is “Interconnected” from my American Heroes #4CD.
John Muir (1838-1914), who appears on my American Heroes #3 CD, is remembered as the most influential conservationist and naturalist in America, is known as “the father of our national parks.” An ingenious inventor who was blinded by an injury, he vowed that if his sight were restored, he would devote himself to the study of the inventions of Nature. Gradually, his vision returned, and he courageously took a stand against the destruction of America’s great western forests. With his poetic writing, he taught us that wild places are precious and fragile spiritual resources that must be preserved. A compassionate dreamer, he forever changed the way we see our mountains and forests. Muir’s birthday is, not coincidentally, April 21, the day before Earth Day.
For more Earth Day Songs, click here!
Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, Jonathan Sprout, has dedicated the past 21 years to creating meaningful and captivating music for children. Jonathan’s four American Heroes albums have won 25 national awards and critical acclaim as groundbreaking CDs in the field of educational children’s music. Click here to see more music from Jonathan Sprout