"I liked the rhythms," Seeger said. "I liked the melodies, time tested by generations of singers. Above all, I liked the words."
As I mentioned earlier we met over environment and history which became great interests of his:
"The musician's work has since extended to environmentalism and folklorist studies of America's music. Among other projects, Seeger has helped to organize the Hudson River Sloop Restoration, Inc., for which he raised over $60,000 to build a genuine Hudson River sloop, Clearwater. Clearwater now spearheads "sloop festivals," at which residents of the Hudson's banks collaborate to address pollution in the River and elsewhere. Whether in songwriting, musicology, or activism, Seeger has enjoyed a life dedicated to music and to humanity, winning thousands of admirers and greatly influencing folk music and activism alike. He currently lives on the Hudson River with his wife of nearly sixty years, in a cabin the couple and some friends constructed decades ago, enjoying his surroundings and still performing from time to time."
Finally, along with the books and, of course, the music and that goose-pimple, rousing or sweet music; I send you to my photoblog for a few pictures which include the sloop "Clearwater," Pete singing at Opus 40 in Saugerties, NY and another of our pictures of the basics of jazz: playing for some money near Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The picture of Pete was probably from the '80s and the Clearwater in the '90s. New Orleans about 1997. Just click over to my other blog at Commentaries
Other quotations are from
RockNRoll Hall of Fame
Notable Unitarians
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
That was great. How anyone cannot love Pete Seeger is beyond me. He's a national treasure.
I dind't know all the background thanks for posting it.
2 - Al Barger
Ever lovin' Pete Seeger. You speak of him in the past tense. Best I can tell, he's still alive.
Groovy gratuitous Pete Seeger quote:
"I like to say I'm more conservative than Goldwater. He just wanted to turn the clock back to when there was no income tax. I want to turn the clock back to when people lived in small villages and took care of each other."
3 - Eric Olsen
Pete's a cool old commie, indeed
4 - Eric Olsen
no one has mentioned he used to have the world's smallest pony tail
5 - francisco68
Al Barger is correct. Pete Seeger is still alive, probably still full of piss and vinegar and music. The past tense comes from the fact that I left the US 7+ years ago so my life before then and before a heart attack always seem "past tense". Point taken in the grammar department.
6 - Al Barger
Francisco speaks words of wisdom, which you would all do well to memorize and repeat frequently. "Al Barger is correct." Take those words to heart.
7 - Dave Nalle
The only record I had for several years of my childhood was a Pete Seeger EP for kids. I think it permanently warped my musical tastes. Even today I still have several of his songs on my iPod.
Dave
8 - brian
First saw Pete in london in the very early sixties at 18, him standing six feet in front of me and towering above me, leaning back and singing up to the ceiling almost. A real warm and genuine man!
9 - Len Smiley
Pete Seeger was a dedicated Stalinist who hated rock 'n' roll.
The Cleveland abomination gives new meaning to "mistake on the lake".
Lemmy, si! Pete, no!
10 - Barry Stoller
I would suggest his LP (CD, still in print) God Bless The Grass as one of his more consistent efforts. Tom Wilson (Dylan; S&G) produced it right before leaving Columbia (for Verve). It has the Husdon River Song, among other essentials. 1966, straight up.
11 - HW Saxton
Larry Williams - "Dizzy Miss Lizzy,Bony
Maronie,Slow Down,Bad Boy,She Said Yeah"
isn't in the R n R Hall O' Shame but he
(Pete Seeger)is? Pete Seeger has got to
be the lamest entry yet.He's got NOTHING
to do with R n R. Even being Communist
isn't on his side. Can't even give the
RnR HOS credit for trying in this case.
12 - Dani Seeger
Omg maybe we are realated!