Len Chandler (born Len Hunt Chandler Jr on 27 May 1935; died 28 August 2023) was an American folk singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist remembered for his powerful voice and socially conscious songs. From Akron, Ohio, he showed an early interest in music and began playing piano at age 8. Studying classical music in his early teens, he learned to play the oboe so he could join the high school band, and during his senior year joined the Akron Symphony. He eventually earned his B.A. in Music Education from the University of Akron, moved to New York, and received an M.A. from Columbia University. By the early 1960s Chandler began to get involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He sang at demonstrations and rallies, and won a reputation as a protest songwriter. After penning topical material related to the Original Black Panther Party, he began writing three topical songs a day for the KRLA radio program, The Credibility Gap. At KRLA he also wrote and recorded the short theme song "The Chronicles of Pop" for the Pop Chronicles radio program. In the early 1970s he formed the Alternative Chorus-Songwriters Showcase to promote new talent. One of his most famous songs, "Beans in My Ears", was recorded by the Serendipity Singers as well as by Pete Seeger. Chandler's 1964 song "Keep On Keepin' On" was used by Martin Luther King Jr. in a speech, after King's secretary saw the song in New York Broadside issue 34. <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Len+Chandler">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.