Born to Woody and his second wife, dancer Marjorie Mazia, Arlo was destined to follow in his father’s musical footsteps, but these were large shoes to fill and Arlo took his music in a different direction. The generation of traditional ballad singers of the 1950s was on the way out and the new crop of songwriters of the ’60s, whose writing was influenced by the traditional styles of singing and playing but also by the tide-changing and turbulent events of the time, were on the way in.

Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs and so many more, steeped in tradition, but with something new to say, were bringing an original brand of songwriting to the folk community. In 1967, with the release of “Alice’s Restaurant,” Arlo made his mark, with the same truth-telling, authority-defying flavor of storytelling though song and spoken word for which his father was known. Arlo infused humor and fun into the songs of protest and social commentary.

Throughout the next four decades and all over the world, Arlo brought his music to millions without the boost of a commercial hit, but rather with the broad appeal of his starkly honest songs, multi-instrumented talent and uniquely soulful singing. His performances are distinctive for their wit, for inspiring the listeners to care about what he is singing about, and to get involved, both in the music and in the issues he sings about. Enter the third generation.

Recording on Arlo’s label, Rising Son Records, his son Abe, formerly the front man for his indie-rock band Xavier, now tours with his Dad. Arlo’s daughter Sarah Lee and her husband Johnny Irion, also previous Rising Son artists, are touring the country, filling the seats at venues everywhere with listeners eager to hear the next evolution of the folk scene.