SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Bruce “U.Utah” Phillips, a Grammy-nominated folk singer known for his extensive touring over nearly 40 years and strong support of peace groups and labor unions in his works, died Friday. He was 73.

Phillips died of congestive heart failure at his home in Nevada City, Calif., a small town in the Sierra Nevada mountains located about 60 miles north of Sacramento.

Phillips had been suffering from chronic heart disease since 2004, Smith said. His health problems cut short the touring that had characterized much of Phillips’ career, though he kept in touch with fans over the last few years of his life through a series of podcasts and blog postings written by one of his sons, Duncan.

Phillips’ career spanned nearly four decades, and his collaboration with Ani DiFranco on the labor-themed 1999 album “Fellow Workers” earned them a Grammy award nomination in 2000 for best contemporary folk album.