Pete Seeger
Biography
Peter "Pete" Seeger, born in New York City on May 3, 1919, was a seminal figure in American folk music. His father, Charles Seeger, was a musicologist, and his mother, Constance de Clyver Edson Seeger, was a concert violinist and teacher. After dropping out of Harvard University, he traveled the country, collecting and performing folk songs. In 1940, he formed the Almanac Singers with Woody Guthrie and others, a group known for its pro-union and anti-war songs.
Musical Career
In the late 1940s, Seeger co-founded the Weavers, a quartet that brought folk music to mainstream audiences with hits like "Goodnight, Irene." The group's success was cut short when they were blacklisted during the McCarthy era due to their political affiliations. Seeger was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1955, where he refused to name political associates, leading to a contempt of Congress conviction that was later overturned. Despite being blacklisted from television and major radio, Seeger continued to record and perform on college campuses and at folk festivals, becoming a major force in the 1960s folk revival.
Songwriting and Influence
Seeger wrote or co-wrote several enduring folk anthems, including "If I Had a Hammer," "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)," and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?". He also played a crucial role in popularizing the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome." His music has been covered by numerous artists, and he is credited with inspiring generations of musicians, including Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
Activism and Legacy
Throughout his life, Seeger was a dedicated activist for various causes, including civil rights, the labor movement, and environmentalism. He was instrumental in the effort to clean up the Hudson River, co-founding the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater organization. Seeger's contributions to music and social justice earned him numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1994, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He passed away on January 27, 2014, in New York City.