Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)

Subject: Obit: Fred Hellerman
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 03:38 PM

Sadly, Fred Hellerman has left us,

From The Weston Forum

By Patricia Gay

Fred Hellerman, Last Member of the Weavers, Dies at 89

Fred Hellerman of Weston, a folk singer, guitarist, producer and song writer, has died at the age of 89.

Hellerman was primarily known as one of the original members of The Weavers, an influential and wildly popular folk music quartet of the 1950s and 1960s which also featured Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Ronnie Gilbert.

He was also known for producing the record album Alice's Restaurant for Arlo Guthrie.

A resident of Weston since 1969, Hellerman lived on Goodhill Road where he had a recording studio. He was a founding member of the local Theater Artists Workshop which was created by actor Keir Dullea for professionals to develop and hone their craft.

Hellerman was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and educated at Brooklyn College.

He was the last of The Weavers to die. Ronnie Gilbert died in 2015, Pete Seeger died in 2014, and Lee Hays died in 1981.

There are no funeral services announced. A memorial service is being planned for a future time.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 03:56 PM

Obituary from the CTPost:

***************************************

Fred Hellerman, 89, the last of the Weavers
   
By Jim Shay and John Burgeson

Updated 12:32 pm, Friday, September 2, 2016

Fred Hellerman, the last remaining member of the Weavers, died Thursday, his son, Caleb, confirmed Friday morning in a telephone interview.

Hellerman, who lived in Weston for 46 years, was 89.

The son said that there would be no funeral, adding that a memorial event will take place in the coming months.

"I have sad news to share: my dad, Fred Hellerman, died this morning after a long run of failing health," Caleb announced late Thursday on Facebook. "He was home and surrounded by family. It's still sinking in, but I appreciate the words of comfort that many of you have shared. There won't be a funeral but we will hold a memorial service, with music, some time in the next few months."

The Weavers, whose other members were Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Ronnie Gilbert, helped spark a national folk revival by churning out hit recordings of "Goodnight Irene," ''On Top of Old Smokey," ''If I Had A Hammer," ''Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" and "Wimoweh."

The group was hugely popular before being targeted by anti-Communists and blacklisted during the Red Scare. Their popularity returned in the 1960s; the group released more than 25 LPs over the years, and at least 16 are still available on CD and vinyl.

Hellerman lived on Goodhill Road in Weston since 1969 and had a recording studio in his home. He knew and sang with Woody Guthrie, and later produced "Alice's Restaurant" for Guthrie's son, Arlo.

The group, formed in 1948 and disbanded in 1964, played a reunion concert Carnegie Hall in New York City on Nov. 28, 1980.

Seeger died in 2014 at age 94, Gilbert died in 2015, and Hays in 1981.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 04:51 PM

I feel the way I felt when Donald Mills died, the last of the Mills Brothers. A reunion in Heaven!

Fred Hellerman was called "the ubiquitous Fred Hellerman" in the liner notes of one of my parents' Elektra Records folk-music recordings. He played in the session for "Songs from many Lands," for example, with Theodore Bikel and Geula Gill, a session that included banjo-ist Billy Faier. He has left many recordings behind, with and without the Weavers.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman
From: Little Robyn
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 10:04 PM

Oh, sad.
Farewell Stringsinger.
http://mudcat.org/usersearch.cfm?who=Stringsinger
Robyn

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman
From: Little Robyn
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 10:07 PM

Or this might be better:
Fred's threads

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 10:33 PM

Little Robyn, I thought Stringsinger was Frank Hamilton, not Fred Hellerman.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 10:52 PM

Another addition to The REAL Big Sing

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman
From: Little Robyn
Date: 03 Sep 16 - 12:28 AM

You're right, sorry Frank.
Did Fred post here tho?
Robyn

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Sep 16 - 01:10 AM

As far as I know, Frank Hamilton is the only member of the Weavers who has posted here. Don't go writing Frank's obituary, Robyn. We want to keep him.
Joe

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: GUEST,Anne Neilson
Date: 03 Sep 16 - 11:49 AM

I saw The Weavers in Glasgow, Scotland in 1960 (I think) and even managed to get their autographs on a concert ticket via my teacher who was the concert organiser (before I was sent home by the same teacher with a flea in my ear because I wouldn't be home till close to midnight).

I have such wonderful memories of the energy generated by their singing, and the response from the audience in every chorus -- as well as the choreography of four performers + two instruments sharing one microphone!

And as I grew up and had available cash, I bought Weavers' records whenever I could and learned to appreciate the immense musicality of these four very special people: I had a particular fondness for Ronnie's passion in songs such as 'Venga Jaleo', I loved Pete's ability to change rhythmic gears (the medley that culminates in 'Hey Lillee'), Lee's immense underpinning with that rumbling bass -- and one of my favourite tracks of all time was Fred's singing of 'Buddy, Can You spare a Dime?' This was my first introduction to the song and his delivery, so honest and heartfelt, has been influential.

I always felt that he perhaps missed out by not being larger than life, like the other three -- but then, the chemistry probably wouldn't have worked without his very musical, but understated, input.

Thank you, Fred, for great and tasteful performances of important songs, and commiserations to his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 03 Sep 16 - 03:05 PM

Fred Hellerman and Pete Seeger making a seamless duo performance out of "Talking Blues," on the Weavers Live at Carnegie Hall album: they made it sound spontaneous, but that blend of guitar and banjo, in hindsight, sounds carefully prepared and rehearsed. The two trade verses in singing, but as a child my favorite verse was the one where they worked in a surprise. Pete Seeger began the verse about how "nobody likes the way I talk," leading into the elocution lesson.

SEEGER:   How Now, Brrrrrrrown Cow?

HELLERMAN: RRRRRRRRRRRight now, Grrrrrrrrrreen Bull!!

If I remember right, Hellerman takes on "Sixteen Tons" on the same recording, and his was the first performance I heard, before I ever heard of Merle Travis or Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Sep 16 - 06:39 PM

I loved the Weavers. So sorry they're all gone.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: open mike
Date: 04 Sep 16 - 02:54 AM

Eric Darling, Bernie Krause, and Frank Hamilton were in the Weavers, too. Eric died in 2008. I saw mention of another member who is still living, but can't find the name now...any one know of others?? (Perhaps there are others still living)

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 16 - 05:25 AM

RIP. He wrote one of my early favorites - sung by Joe Frazier: Business Goes on as Usual.

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 04 Sep 16 - 04:33 PM

Regarding those who replaced Pete Seeger in The Weavers, to the best of my knowledge only Frank Hamilton (Mudcat's "Stringsinger") and Bernie Krause (aka Dr. Bernard Krause) are still with us.

Anyone have any other information?

I grew up listening to Theodore Bikel's albums, and I have (somewhere) the album with Geula Gill. But, off the top of my head, I also remember the 1958 album Theodore Bikel Sings Jewish Folk Songs where, besides playing, Fred Hellerman's voice can also be heard on at least one song. (I think it's "A Sundenyu", but I'm not 100% certain.)

Mr. Hellerman's death is a huge loss. A part of my childhood, adolescence, adulthood and maturity has gone. But, thanks to all those wonderful recordings he left us, new generations can (and will) enjoy and appreciate his musical legacy.


Jay

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Sep 16 - 12:46 PM

So sad to hear about Fred Hellerman passing over..

But let's not lay Frank Hamilton to rest as well!!

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 06 Sep 16 - 10:06 AM

Guardian Obituary

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: BrooklynJay
Date: 06 Sep 16 - 01:20 PM

A correction to my previous post:

The title of the Theodore Bikel song featuring Fred Hellerman is "A Sudenyu" and can be found here on YouTube. The song, in Yiddish, is a dialogue between a student (Hellerman) and a rabbi (Bikel). Hellerman's is the first voice you hear.

I have to confess I was quite teary-eyed after listening to the song; I was three years old when my parents bought the album.

Memories...


Jay

Subject: RE: Obit: Fred Hellerman (1927-2016)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 06 Sep 16 - 03:24 PM

I was very sorry to hear this news. He did a great deal for the music we love and helped it survive.   I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread. My condolences to all those who know and love him.

RIP

Peter