Pete Seeger, Songwriter and Champion of Folk Music, Dies at 94
Rest in Peace, Pete.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
So sad. He was such an icon and leaves behind a legacy of both great, inspirational music and activism.
I had the GREAT honor of meeting Pete Seeger after the concert held in Madison Square Garden to celebrate his 90th birthday. (90th birthday!)
Woody Guthrie's granddaughter, Anna, is a dear friend of mine, and she invited me to join her for what was one of the most amazing, moving, inspiring, uplifting, and life-affirming events I've ever attended.
Anna shared today that she had the chance to be with Pete, at his bedside, this weekend. He was such a hero, and now it's up to us to continue his legacy.
In the words of Woody Guthrie: "I'm gonna get through this world, the best I can. I'm gonna walk in the world, talk in this world, work in this world, clean up this world, and then I'm gonna leave this world behind." Pete did all these things, and more.
I also love what Nora Guthrie (Woody's daughter and Anna's mother) shared today. She wrote these words about her father, but shared them today in honor of Pete Seeger.
"I grew up at his feet, thinking how tall he was!
Now that I'm grown up I see he is even taller."
Ya gotta admire- never lost his faith in humanity's ability to improve.
As great of a loss as this is, you have to celebrate NINETY FOUR years. That's amazing.
It absolutely is.
A life to truly be admired and celebrated.
Into the 21st century remained one of the most important people to represent Upstate New York and the Hudson Valley.
RIP Mr. Seeger
So, this is just amazing. My sister sings a lot of folk music, and plays my father's banjo at music nights (yeah, I think there was shenanigans at the hospital, because I must have been switched at birth). We grew up listening to Pete Singer, and I can say that he is one of my family's heroes.
My sister wrote Pete Seeger in August last year with some condolences on the passing of his wife, and a thought about her 20 tips for folk singing sessions. Today, in the mail, she received a hand written note on the sides/margins of her letter, praising her suggestion, and urging her to turn it into a pamphlet. It was signed Pete Seeger with a little Banjo cartoon. He mentions his failing health, and was postmarked January 25th.
Amazing grace and graciousness from the man.
Wow.
What a treasure for her to have.
Amazing Grace.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
Rest in peace, Mr. Seeger. You preserved and revived a nation's cultural voice, and somewhere someone is singing a song they learned because of you. Thank you.
My dad was heavily ensconced in the "coffee shop" folk music scene (really the pre-Hippie, beatnik scene). He played banjo and guitar, and in the late '50s in NY, he jammed with Pete Seeger one evening. It went on for many hours. At the end of the night, Pete gave his archtop top guitar to my dad. Pete called it the "Toonerville Trolley," and my dad kept the nickname. He treasured this guitar and played it often. When I was a child, my dad used to sit in the hallway between my bedroom and my brother's room. He would sing folksongs to us, playing this guitar, until we fell asleep.
I have no idea where it ended up. When my parents divorced in the mid '80s, most everything was sold, so I assume it was as well. And my dad never played the guitar again.
Needless to say, I grew up listening to Pete's music (and Dylan's, Judy Collins, etc.). It was always in the house. I feel like a part of my childhood has passed away, but also a man who gave my dad a lifelong, magic memory and a treasured memento one evening.
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