Remembering Pete Seeger, from Woody Guthrie to Occupy Wall Street
There's so much to express about one of my heroes, Pete Seeger, who passed away, apparently peacefully, in New York at the age of 94. Despite his advance age, this still came as a shock, since he'd been out and about not long ago and scheduled for events not far from my home--he lived just up the river from me, that river being the Hudson. Of course, I once boarded his famous sloop, the Clearwater.
Just last week I was trying to find a way to contact him. The film I co-produced about the political influence of Beethoven's Ninth, Following the Ninth, is screening on February 27 up in Rhinebeck, very near his home in Beacon. In the film, Billy Bragg sings his new right-on lyrics to the "Ode to Joy," something Pete had done long ago, and I wondered if I might coax Pete into the cold for a few minutes to sing a few bars after the screening. Here's Pete singing it long ago:.
Pete Seeger: Ode to JoySome folk music for you. More Seeger to come, I imagine.
Now here he talks about his old friend Woody Guthrie, as he promoted his songs and legend, then largely forgotten.
ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGHWAY | THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND | TULSA | E1S1 | 2017ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGHWAY is a series connecting cities to their musical past and present, this episode kicks off in TULSA ...
And to complete this circle, here's Pete just two years ago at the end of his march for Occupy Wall Street, which ended in Columbus Circle with a kind of birthday party for Pete, video shot by pal and noted filmmaker Sandi Bachom.
More to come...
RIP PETE SEEGER Historic Pete's Mic Check @ #OWS Columbus Circle "The River Flows" 10/22/1192 yr old Pete Seeger asks, "Who's here from Clearwater?" at The People's Mic Occupy Columbus Circle sings "I could be happy ...
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
There's so much to express about one of my heroes, Pete Seeger, who passed away, apparently peacefully, in New York at the age of 94. Despite his advance age, this still came as a shock, since he'd been out and about not long ago and scheduled for events not far from my home--he lived just up the river from me, that river being the Hudson. Of course, I once boarded his famous sloop, the Clearwater.
Just last week I was trying to find a way to contact him. The film I co-produced about the political influence of Beethoven's Ninth, Following the Ninth, is screening on February 27 up in Rhinebeck, very near his home in Beacon. In the film, Billy Bragg sings his new right-on lyrics to the "Ode to Joy," something Pete had done long ago, and I wondered if I might coax Pete into the cold for a few minutes to sing a few bars after the screening. Here's Pete singing it long ago:.
Pete Seeger: Ode to JoySome folk music for you. More Seeger to come, I imagine.
Now here he talks about his old friend Woody Guthrie, as he promoted his songs and legend, then largely forgotten.
ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGHWAY | THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND | TULSA | E1S1 | 2017ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGHWAY is a series connecting cities to their musical past and present, this episode kicks off in TULSA ...
And to complete this circle, here's Pete just two years ago at the end of his march for Occupy Wall Street, which ended in Columbus Circle with a kind of birthday party for Pete, video shot by pal and noted filmmaker Sandi Bachom.
More to come...
RIP PETE SEEGER Historic Pete's Mic Check @ #OWS Columbus Circle "The River Flows" 10/22/1192 yr old Pete Seeger asks, "Who's here from Clearwater?" at The People's Mic Occupy Columbus Circle sings "I could be happy ...
There's so much to express about one of my heroes, Pete Seeger, who passed away, apparently peacefully, in New York at the age of 94. Despite his advance age, this still came as a shock, since he'd been out and about not long ago and scheduled for events not far from my home--he lived just up the river from me, that river being the Hudson. Of course, I once boarded his famous sloop, the Clearwater.
Just last week I was trying to find a way to contact him. The film I co-produced about the political influence of Beethoven's Ninth, Following the Ninth, is screening on February 27 up in Rhinebeck, very near his home in Beacon. In the film, Billy Bragg sings his new right-on lyrics to the "Ode to Joy," something Pete had done long ago, and I wondered if I might coax Pete into the cold for a few minutes to sing a few bars after the screening. Here's Pete singing it long ago:.
Pete Seeger: Ode to JoySome folk music for you. More Seeger to come, I imagine.
Now here he talks about his old friend Woody Guthrie, as he promoted his songs and legend, then largely forgotten.
ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGHWAY | THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND | TULSA | E1S1 | 2017ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGHWAY is a series connecting cities to their musical past and present, this episode kicks off in TULSA ...
And to complete this circle, here's Pete just two years ago at the end of his march for Occupy Wall Street, which ended in Columbus Circle with a kind of birthday party for Pete, video shot by pal and noted filmmaker Sandi Bachom.
More to come...
RIP PETE SEEGER Historic Pete's Mic Check @ #OWS Columbus Circle "The River Flows" 10/22/1192 yr old Pete Seeger asks, "Who's here from Clearwater?" at The People's Mic Occupy Columbus Circle sings "I could be happy ...