Pete Seeger's last concert

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 05:12 PM

One nice note - it is great to see that Pete is still with us and has become a legend, long after the paranoid nutcases tried to blacklist him. He is living proof that the freedoms we fought for in this country do mean something. He won the battle for free speech and is recognized for his contributions to improving our nation while his detractors are forgotten names in forgotten graves.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Once Famous
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 05:10 PM

Your fooling yourself, Ron.

Age has greatly deteriorated his talents, but not necessarily his legend.

However, others have had just as much if not more influence, musically.

You can also wave at me from the ditch and rut you might just be in.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 05:02 PM

"over the hill" is a matter of where you are standing. I visited Pete a few years ago. He had just come in from chopping wood. I saw him last year and he did not appear to slip a bit.

The reality is, he is 85 years old. Of course he forgets a few words. His voice is not what it used to be. But it is not bad for an 85 year old.

Were people going to see Pete Seeger for the music? Not exactly. Pete's concerts were events. IF you know anything about the man you understand that his purpose was to educate and to show people how they can make music, and more importantly make a difference.

I don't think anyone ever requested their money back from a Pete Seeger concert. Maybe a few pinheads with closed minds during the McCarthy era, but I believe most people who saw Pete in recent years treasure the moments.

Some people tend to think songs are museum pieces. They can't see how a song like Marching to Pretoria might still have relevance. Folk music is a living tradition, and Pete certainly planted enough seeds to keep it growing.

We can all wave at Martin from whatever hill we are standing on.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Once Famous
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 04:50 PM

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Don.

Amazing how you just love to character assasinate with someone who just doesn't agree with you. You are the champion of self-inflated posters, Don.

He's over the hill, Don. I agree, too bad. But , I'll also stand by what I last posted.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Don Firth
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 04:42 PM

Marty, you tend to self-inflate. You had nothing to do with my responding to this thread. I didn't discover it until this morning.

As I said, this thread is about Pete. If you want to use it to indulge in your usual small-mindedness, go right ahead and show your true colors. But I've said what I wanted to say in my first post, so there's no reason for me to post anything more here, especially in response to you. That's it. I'm done here.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Wesley S
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 04:40 PM

Pete forgot more about folk music than a dozen of us ever knew. He'll be missed of course. I wish I'd had a chance to see him at any point in his career.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Once Famous
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 02:29 PM

Don, you wouldn't have responded if I hadn't prodded you.

I , like others have no personal stake in this.

Pete Seeger is over the hill. Probably was years ago. Finally he admits that he can't remember the words any more. It's sad he performed for as long as he did, getting paid for concerts by a way too forgiving audience. Enjoy his records and let the guy retire with what dignity

He had many days in the sun. time to hang up the spikes, I mean banjo and let someone new carry the torch.

Time marches on. Marching to Pretoria is ancient history.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Midchuck
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 02:26 PM

I would say it was sadder to see someone we love not get old.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Steve-o
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 01:54 PM

Thank you, Don, for speaking eloquently for most all of us. I sure wish I had a great personal story about Pete, but no such luck. For those of us whose lives were impacted by Pete's music and all that he stands for, all we can do is be thankful, and you're right- sort of mournful. Through his music and his integrity, I feel that I somehow know him- he has a place in my heart. I'll bet many many folks feel this way. I would call him one of the Great Men of the 20th Century. It is, of course, sad to see someone we love get old, but bowing out gracefully is exactly what I would expect from Pete Seeger. He may not be up there on the stage with that amazing enthusiasm and charisma, but his music will live on for many generations.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 01:20 PM

This is getting silly. Does everybody need to respond? What can you say? Pete meant a lot to all of us. He is 85 and trying to take life a little easier. It is understood what he has meant to this music. The fact that folk music has survived to the extent that it has is a testament to his contributions. What is there to discuss?    The fact that the initial message was posted late on Saturday and EmilyF made her comment on Monday morning when there is only a handful of posts points out that most Mudcatters have other things to do on the weekend.

Don't moan about the old lightbulb because the current bulb is burning just fine.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Don Firth
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 01:05 PM

Martin, this is a thread about Pete. Let's try to keep it on a higher level, shall we?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Once Famous
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 01:00 PM

Don Firth

The fact that you responded now proves how psychology is such a powerful weapon.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Don Firth
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 12:53 PM

GUEST,Emily F. and Martin Gibson, I don't believe the apparent lack of response to this thread necessarily indicates a lack of interest in folk music here. In a very real sense, it marks the end of an era. Sometimes such things as Pete's retiring from public performing produce such a personal response that they don't seem to call for any particularly public response or display. Rather, it seems to call for a period of contemplation: something similar, perhaps, to a period of mourning. And that can feel very personal; almost too personal to discuss in open forum without, at least, allowing a little time to pass to absorb it.

In fall of 1954, when I had only been playing guitar and singing for a couple of years, Pete gave a concert in a small auditorium (seated about 100) in Seattle's University District. Pete wasn't getting many singing jobs at the time because his battle with the House Un-American Activities Committee scared many people away, but that didn't stop Walt Robertson from arranging the concert, nor did it stop the auditorium from being packed. There was a party for Pete after the concert, and since I was taking guitar lessons from Walt at the time, I was included. It was a great party with lots of singing (Pete wanted to hear local singers), but it was a Tuesday night, and since many people had to work the next day, they began drifting off around midnight. But the party went on, because Pete was game to stay as long as there were people there who wanted to keep singing. About six of us, including Pete, wound up sitting on Carol Lee Waite's living room floor until four o'clock in the morning passing a guitar around—my very recently purchased Martin 00-18—swapping songs and asking Pete questions. As you can imagine, it was an unforgettable evening. And morning.

Those few hours had a lot to do with the course of the rest of my life. So I am certainly not indifferent to Pete's retiring from public performance. And I doubt that I am the only one who Pete's boundless enthusiasm affected in that same way, and who now feel rather sober at this recent news.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: black walnut
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 11:46 AM

JeffM is going. Looking forward to your report, Jeff!

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Alonzo M. Zilch (inactive)
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 11:36 AM

I've re-read both of the articles that I linked to. Neither says that it is Pete's last PAYING gig. They say it will be his last PUBLIC gig. That suggests to me that Pete is going into full retirement, something that, at 85, I certainly don't begrudge him. If anyone's earned it, it's Pete Seeger. It is, though, an end of an era that began about 65 years ago.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Once Famous
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 11:35 AM

You are right, Guest, Guest Emily F.

There isn't really that much interest in American folk music here. Not as much as there could or should be.

This is the end of an illustrious career that influenced many, but I guess there isn't enough to talk about for the navel gazers.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 11:28 AM

well - the concert hasn't happenned yet - and according to the sources it is only his last PAYING gig - so there really doesn't seem to be much to discuss about it.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: GUEST,Emily F.
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 11:25 AM

It's pretty indicative of how far Mudcat has moved from folk music that a thread about Pete Seeger's last concert gets almost no reponse.

It's too bad that Toronto is so far away. I sure wish I could be there.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: emilyrain
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 07:03 PM

pete and arlo guthrie's first double album of live sets ("together") is what made me a folkie 'till i die. what a body of work he's produced... what a life.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: lucky_p
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 05:25 PM

If so, it makes me sad. A highlight of my early childhood -- what solidified my love for folk music -- was watching Pete perform at my summer camp in upper New York State in 1962. He sang "Wimoweh" and talked about the South African lion sleeping that would soon be getting up, and he was right of course. And we all sang "We Shall Overcome" and meant it, as this was a progressive democratic socialist summer camp governed by equal representation of women, blacks, whites and latins, an anomaly then and even now to some extent, but way before its time. Pete was just so great -- tremendous energy level and terrific harmonies and galvanized the entire audience and blew off the rooftop.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: BK Lick
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 04:59 PM

The second of those linked pages contains this contributed comment:

He performs for free in his own community all summer long. He has said that this is his last paying gig.
He will play on I'm sure!

-- BK

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: pdq
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 04:06 PM

Shouldn't Frank Hamilton be invited?

Subject: Attention: TORONTO people
From: Alonzo M. Zilch (inactive)
Date: 12 Sep 04 - 01:51 PM

If any of you are going to attend this event, please post a report. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: cobber
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 07:22 AM

God! That makes me feel old. Surely I haven't had my Weavers albums that long. Ronnie Gilbert came to Australia a few years back and sounded as good as ever so that should be a great night. Is anyone recording it?

Subject: Pete Seeger's last concert
From: Alonzo M. Zilch (inactive)
Date: 11 Sep 04 - 01:33 AM

I've seen several reports that Pete Seeger's appearance in Toronto next week with the other surviving Weavers -- Fred Hellerman, Ronnie Gilbert and Erik Darling -- will be his last concert. Ever.

Toronto Sun

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