To me and many others, Seeger was the Grand Old Man of American folk music and social/political activism. He was a real left-winger, but I liked him anyway for the human feeling in his lyrics. He sang with the Weavers in the 1940's before becoming a single. He was idolized by the college set in the 50's and 60's, which included me! Hal
Living, going to college and being a political activist in New York City in the sixties I had the great honor of meeting Pete Seeger and joining others on his sloop Clearwater. A down to earth, funny, warm, generous and loving individual was Pete Seeger. A Great Man who loved and welcomed the students and made friends from strangers. Thank you Hal, you bring up such wonderful people and events.
I agree. I never met the man but I have admired him from afar for many years. And way back when I became serious about playing harmonica, thinking maybe it would help my lungs, I sought out Pete's music, both his Harmonica and his banjo and guitar because he invited guests who I wanted to watch and listen. The man was the real McCoy and when he passed on, I felt real sorrow and although we had never laid eyes on each other, I felt I had lost a friend.
A real genuine person and artist. You can tell he enjoyed life and making music. And a 'tip of the cap' for his work on cleaning up the Hudson!
It's gratifying to hear of others who thought Pete was a strong influence that led the Folk Music Rennaisance of the 1960's. Joan Baez was also a great singer and a left-wing political activist. Her "Matty Groves" was a powerful folk song, although not political. My future father-in-law was a Sheriff's deputy in Alameda County, CA, where he arrested Joan Baez in 1967 for protesting the Vietnam War at the Army recruiting station in Oakland California. I never got to meet him, as he passed before I married his daughter Judy, shown with me below. Hal
I was listening to his dramatic and sad song of the Welsh coal mining strike of 1926, which included the names of several Welsh towns. This isn't for everybody, but perhaps for historians and their feeling for the downtrodden working class of Wales. Seeger plays a masterful 12-string guitar in this 1964 Australian concert. Hal