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Pete Seeger (1919-2014)

Pete Seeger (1919-2014)

Pete Seeger was born in New York and raised in a christian/ musical family. His parents were professionally trained and from an early age Pete would learn music and his appreciation of it. He would travel with his parents to spread music to all communities. At the young age of 16 he had the idea of becoming a hermit. He loved the outdoors.

Pete would serve in WWII in the army. After the war, he would form The Weavers and for several years they would do well. Pete would be blacklisted during the McCarthy anti communist years but would come back in the 60's like a gangbusters.

He would play a big role in the 60's anti everything movement. He would protest against anything that seemed unfair. You know it's hard to talk about the man after his death. For you see he was involved in so much and touched our lives in so many ways that it's just hard to put down on paper.

He was a purist when it came to folk music. He would be there for a young Bob Dylan. His music would be performed by dozens of groups and individuals.

He would marry Toshi in 1943 and would stay married for 70 years until her death in 2013. That's something that most people don't even think of any more. He and his wife bought some land in Hudson River Valley area in the 1940's. They would have a small trailer, then a log cabin and finally a home. all done by themselves. He was a throwback to a time that no longer exists. He cared for humanity and everything about it.

When I heard of his death, I had to stop and take a breath. For you see the world lost a great human being. He was a loving husband and father. He was a great mentor to some of the greatest musical heroes of our time. He was an activist in the purest of terms. He was a "human being" in the humblest of ways. You see like many of us, he left this world a better place for his being here. He is someone that when he appeared in movies, he didn't play someone else he played himself. His spirit lives in many people and his faith lives on in all of us.