Seeger, Pete, 1919-2014

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1919-05-03
Death 2014-01-27
Birth 1919-05-03
Death 2014-01-27
Americans
English, English,

Biographical notes:

Pete Seeger (1919-2014) was an American folk singer and social activist.

As a member of the Weavers, Seeger was often heard on the radio in the early 1950s, most notably on their recording of Lead Belly's "Goodnight, Irene". In the 1960s, Seeger re-emerged on the public scene as a prominent singer of protest music in support of international disarmament, civil rights, counterculture, workers' rights, and environmental causes.

A prolific songwriter, his best-known songs include "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" (with additional lyrics by Joe Hickerson), "If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)" (with Lee Hays of the Weavers), "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (also with Hays), and "Turn! Turn! Turn!".

Seeger was one of the folk singers responsible for popularizing the spiritual "We Shall Overcome" (also recorded by Joan Baez and many other singer-activists), which became the acknowledged anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, soon after folk singer and activist Guy Carawan introduced it at the founding meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960.

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Subjects:

  • Activism and social reform
  • Folk music

Occupations:

  • Singers
  • Folk singers
  • Social Activist
  • Songwriters

Places:

  • NY, US
  • NY, US

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