Pete Seeger, 94
 

Saddened to wake to news of passing of Pete Seeger. I grew up in a home where his music and politics were greatly appreciated. Opera, Dixieland Jazz and Seeger's brand of Folk were the first musical genres I was introduced to by my father. As an authentic troubadour, Seeger helped keep the folk 'ball in the air' and it's interesting that he exits the stage in the midst of a strong revival of the music via the Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons, Dawes and even bands like Villebillies.. A fond goodbye to a gentle soul.

NYT Obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/ar...w-nytimes&_r=0

8 Songs to remember Pete Seeger by: http://theweek.com/article/index/255...mpaign=twitter

Michael Row the Boat Ashore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd_5-2kCzfs

Andrew Cohen with a perfect appreciation: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/...n-soul/283396/

A gentle soul indeed Steve. There's a new documentary on Netflix on the music of Greenwich Village, and Pete is a part of that scene. What a man of principle, who had the courage to fight for what was right. In the face of the insanity and malicious witch hunt, that was the House Committee on Un-American activity! A government disgrace, in my opinion! Pete Seeger was a workin man's hero, but an extremely humble man who believed in the power of good music. A great man. RIP Pete Seeger.

I like Jeff Sharlett's tweet about him: "Point is we shouldn't forget he was an angry man. He did something great with his anger."

Woody Guthrie was angry. Pete Seeger was concerned.

I respectfully disagree and say they were both pretty angry, but it wasn't a general, unshaped anger; it was a specific anger and it was always about very real injustices.

"Don't you wish love - only love - could save this world from disaster?
Lo-ove... - only love - could save this world from disaster?
Don't you wish love could end the confusion,... or is it just one more illusion?
Oh-oh Pacem in Teris, Mir, Shanti, Salaam, Heiwa!

Well, if you want to have great love,... you've got to have great anger.
I-if you want to have great love,... you've got to have great anger!
When I see innocent folks shot down,... you just want me 'shake my head and frown.
Oh-oh Pacem in Teris, Mir, Shanti, Salaam, Heiwa! "
("Letter to Eve")

The gorgeous thing about folk in its heyday (and I grew up listening to it because my dad was a child of the 60's and loved it), was the rage against the system that was couched within upbeat melodies and harmonies. I think a lot of contemporary folk is more introspective, which is fine, but makes it less powerful.

"Where Have All the Flowers Gone" is an incredibly bitter song about war destroying the lives of the young, but it's sung as sweetly and simply as the lullabies the mothers of the young men sent to die sang to them when they were babies. It makes me tear up just thinking about it.

Which, of course, is not to say that all of his songs were angry, but that he channeled his anger into some great anthems for the working man. As did Woody Guthrie, too, of course.

Pete Seeger, 94
 

Big Arlo Guthrie fan here, and so naturally a big Pete Seeger fan as well. He's traded his banjo in for a harp, and I'm sure he's leading the singalongs in heaven right about now. RIP.

Found this on YouTube
 

:tro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DG9NeWSFbI