Guy Carawan was born on July 27, 1927 in Santa Monica, California, USA. He was a writer and composer, known for The Butler (2013), Malcolm X (1992) and Bones (2005). He was married to Carolanne (Candie) M. Anderson and Noel Oliver Osheroff. He died on May 2, 2015 in New Market, Tennessee, USA.
He had two children with his second wife, Candie: son, Evan, and daughter, Heather.
He had suffered from dementia in his later years.
He was a musician, musicologist, and civil rights activist. He is best known for introducing the song "We Shall Overcome" into the repertoire of contemporary protest songs.