Folksinger, railroad tramp and activist Utah Phillips has died of heart failure. Utah was a friend of forest defender Judi Bari and a witness at the Bari vs. FBI trial. In recent years Utah started a homeless shelter in his rural home county. His extensive writing and recording career included two albums with Ani DiFranco which earned a Grammy nomination. Phillips's songs were performed and recorded by Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Tom Waits, Joe Ely and others. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Folk Alliance in 1997.
