Jim Yates - Posted - 02/13/2014:  10:57:47

Here's a piece by Jim Strecker that appeared in today's Hamilton Spectator:  thespec.com/opinion-story/4364...e-seeger/

Edited because I forgot to post the link.

Edited by - Jim Yates on 02/13/2014 10:58:53

kmwaters - Posted - 02/13/2014:  11:21:12

Yeah old Pete could sure stir up controversy. Everyone has an idea what Pete really was, but that's all they are is ideas. Not sure anyone knows. But he did seem to do more good than harm.

Gus Bloch - Posted - 02/13/2014:  11:51:57

Yes, he could stir things up and not just politically. For instance, he is said in the article to have rejected Bel-canto voice training since it wouldn't have taught him to sing like Leadbelly.

I disagree with that notion. Proper voice training can teach someone how to sing effectively which enables a singer to better perform in many chosen styles. He could have used it to mimic whomever he wanted to. That said, it is also quite possible that had he taken those vocal lessons, we might never have enjoyed the singing style he arrived at on his own.

Thanks for sharing the article, Jim.

Jimmy Sutton - Posted - 02/13/2014:  11:53:34

"but that's all they are is ideas" ???

People that knew Pete Seeger do know what he was and he most certainly did do more good than harm. What harm? Teaching hundreds or if not thousands to play banjo?

dfwest - Posted - 02/13/2014:  21:12:11

"Judge a nation by the number of people who can make music themselves" Wow - looks like we might be in trouble!

Dave

Texasbanjo - Posted - 03/06/2014:  17:45:08

I have hidden a political post and a reference to it so if your post is missing, that's why. 

Please, if you wish to talk about Pete, go ahead, but leave his politics out of it.

Paul R - Posted - 03/06/2014:  20:38:44

Thanks for this, Jim.

If you don't already have it, get a hold of How Can I Keep from Singing, the bio of Pete published in 1981 by David King Dunaway. It's pretty thorough, done with research from Pete's files, as well as interviews with Pete and others around him.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 03/06/2014:  21:33:49

If you're interested in the politics of a part of the NY folk scene in the 40s and 50s, Google Robbie Lieberman.  She's a scholar who has done some of the most thorough research in that area, based on sources, not rumor and hearsay.