Re: RIP Pete Seeger
Sad news, indeed. One of the all-time greats and one of my all-time heroes. The first concert I ever went to was The Weavers, may or not have been at Carnegie Hall ( I was 7 or 8). One of my favorite musical encounters was an after-show parking lot impromptu performance by him at Clearwater several years back, as he and Country Joe waited for Toshi. (See below) His Rainbow Warrior TV show was a brief but brilliant contribution to folk music for the masses. A lot of those are up on youtube.
This would happen the night I finally got around to seeing "Inside Llewyn Davis." The Sixties folk music scene is surely fading away, even though it will always live in the hearts of so many. Thanks to Pete for all he did, and beyond the music scene as well.
Here's a piece I wrote to start a thread for his 90th birthday. There are plenty more clips from Rainbow Quest there and some more good reading.
+ x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x + x +
Pete Seeger, folk music's grand old man and worldwide ambassador, turns 90 today. Few have done more for acoustic music than this man, not only by playing it, but by his example of activism, both politically and musically. He has ruffled a few feathers in the process, which got him blacklisted twice for an unconsionably long time, but he was steadfast in his convictions, armed with the courage that comes from knowing he was right. When the second blacklist was lifted, in the mid-60s, he got a folk music show for about a year on local TV in New York, and clips from some of these broadcasts have turned up on youtube. They are now like a time capsule, and it is amazing to see some of these musicians in their heyday, including one of my personal favorites, Patrick Sky. Video of some of them just doesn't exist elsewhere. I'm very grateful that a musicologist was allowed to have a TV show at one point in broadcasting history.
His instruments are the banjo and guitar, but he has worked with many a mandolinist, and inspired many more. He has also written some important songs: "Turn! Turn! Turn!" "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," "Big Muddy," "Guantanamera." But just from his example of standing up for what he believed was right - standing up straight and tall too, with his head held high - mostly in human rights and the peace movement, he helped inspire thousands upon thousands, perhaps millions, to work toward making this world a better place in which to live, love, and yes, enjoy music.
Several years ago at the Clearwater Folk Festival I bumped into Pete Seeger after his set as he was walking with Country Joe McDonald to their car, and he welcomed me to walk and talk with them. While they were waiting for Toshi, Pete's wife, I got to talking with him about a wide range of subjects, including his vanishing singing voice, by this time reduced to a shout with some variation in pitch. I jokingly suggested he go into rap music. He unpacked his banjo and did what he called a rap - mostly it was just him playing banjo while he spoke verses someone had written about the foibles of the English language. I commented that reminded me of George Carlin's work. He didn't know who he was. Too far from his frame of reference, I guess. But his willingness to share that bit of his gift with me, a total stranger, was a thrill I'll never forget.
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
Originally Posted by trevor
Bookmarks