John O'Connor

Over a span of twenty-five years John O'Connor has focused his work on folk music, frequently performing pieces tied to the labor movement. Three solo albums stand among his releases, one issued by Chroma and two by Flying Fish; he also formed the politically oriented quartet Shay's Rebellion and recorded a further Flying Fish album with that group. His labor-related We Ain't Gonna Give It Back appeared on Collector Records. Alongside John McCutcheon, Charlie King, and other artists and activists, O'Connor helped establish Local 1000 of the American Federation of Musicians, serving as the first president of the Internet-based local before McCutcheon succeeded him in the role. He has additionally worked as an organizer for a nurses' association in New York. His poetry has been published in Peregrine, Atlanta Review, and Columbia Review.