Garrison Keillor American writer, comedian and radio host Date of Birth: 07.08.1940 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Radio Career
3. The Birth of "A Prairie Home Companion"
4. Literary Pursuits
5. Political Activism and Later Career

Early Life and Education

Garrison Keillor was born in Anoka, Minnesota, to a carpenter and a postal worker. Raised in a fundamentalist Christian household, he later disavowed those beliefs. Keillor's tall stature, at 6'3", came from his Scottish and Norwegian ancestry.

In 1966, Keillor graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in English. It was at university that he first worked in radio, at the student station Radio K.

Radio Career

Keillor began his professional radio career in November 1969 at Minnesota Educational Radio (later renamed Minnesota Public Radio). Hosting a three-hour morning show, Keillor's program stood out for its eclectic soundtrack.

In February 1971, Keillor briefly left the station due to disagreements over music preferences, but he was persuaded to return in October. It was then that the show was renamed "A Prairie Home Companion."

The Birth of "A Prairie Home Companion"

Keillor's show gained traction, but it was not until 1973 that it hit its stride. On a whim, Keillor began hosting a live Saturday night version of his program, featuring guest musicians and occasional celebrity appearances. The performances, combined with Keillor's wit and storytelling, rapidly made the show a hit.

Literary Pursuits

Beyond his radio work, Keillor became a prolific writer and journalist. His articles appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and Salon.com. He was particularly popular as Mr. Blue, an advice columnist for Salon.com from 1995 to 2001.

Political Activism and Later Career

In 2004, Keillor published a collection of political essays titled "Every Dog Has His Day." He returned to Salon.com in June 2005 under the pseudonym The Old Scout. In April 2010, the column went on hiatus as Keillor focused on writing a screenplay and a novel.

Keillor's screenplay for "A Prairie Home Companion," directed by Robert Altman, became a successful film. He has also written several stage plays and memoirs.