So long Pete...

[Mick F]

Not old .......... only 61.

I was into Pop Music in the 60's and coming from Lancashire, we loved the Liverpool Sound.

[al_yrpal]

The 60s were a funny period. The end of Rockabilly. The age of Traditional Jazz. The Liverpool sound and Swinging London. Towards the end of that, the Folk revival which was initially confined to London where I was at the time. I enjoyed all of them. Although I played in a Jazz Band at the time and met my wife playing at her 21st many of our first dates took us to Soho and the Folk clubs where we saw many British and International artists that are now massive stars. I passed my love of music to my daughter who has an exciting career as a singer.

Al

[blackbike]

Shame about his communism. He was one of the useful idiots who really should have known better.

Good job he was born American really. If he'd been born Russian and pursued a career as a protest singer when he saw the horrors of communism from inside Russia he'd have had to answer to people a lot more intolerant than The House Committee on Un-American Activities.

[reohn2]

Shame about his communism. He was one of the useful idiots who really should have known better..........

On what basis do regard Pete Seeker as an idiot?
And why is it a shame that he was a communist?
Also why do you think Russia was a communist state other than in name?

[pete75]

Shame about his communism. He was one of the useful idiots who really should have known better.

Good job he was born American really. If he'd been born Russian and pursued a career as a protest singer when he saw the horrors of communism from inside Russia he'd have had to answer to people a lot more intolerant than The House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Blackbike?? Shouldn't that really be blackshirt?

[blackbike]

Ooh!

Have I hit a nerve there?

I'm not saying Seeger was a bad person. He was just a bit gullible about communism back in the 20th century like a few people were but most people weren't.

Because he lived in a free country his unorthodox views meant he wasn't sent to a prison camp for a couple of decades or even worse.

[reohn2]

Ooh!

Have I hit a nerve there?

I'm not saying Seeger was a bad person. He was just a bit gullible about communism back in the 20th century like a few people were but most people weren't.

Because he lived in a free country his unorthodox views meant he wasn't sent to a prison camp for a couple of decades or even worse.

Sooo:-

On what basis do regard Pete Seeker as an idiot?
And why is it a shame that he was a communist?
Also why do you think Russia was a communist state other than in name?

[JamesE]

Because he lived in a free country his unorthodox views meant he wasn't sent to a prison camp for a couple of decades or even worse.

No, they just meant he was relentlessly persecuted by the government and his career all but destroyed, along with many, many others. Free country, you say?

[blackbike]

Because he lived in a free country his unorthodox views meant he wasn't sent to a prison camp for a couple of decades or even worse.

No, they just meant he was relentlessly persecuted by the government and his career all but destroyed, along with many, many others. Free country, you say?

Are you serious?

He didn't do too badly at all. He had quite a successful career. And why not?

If he'd been in communist Russia making a nuisance of himself he'd have been silenced quite quickly.

[Vorpal]

Because he lived in a free country his unorthodox views meant he wasn't sent to a prison camp for a couple of decades or even worse.

No, they just meant he was relentlessly persecuted by the government and his career all but destroyed, along with many, many others. Free country, you say?

While the blacklist and McCarthyism destroyed many careers, I'm not convinced that Pete Seeger's was one of them. His music and his way of life were more suited to the coffee houses and outdoor concerts that he was relegated to during the 60s.

Even in 1990s, he still played coffee houses, visited schools, and volunteered at folk festivals.

[al_yrpal]

All the approbation was just grist to Petes mill. Although I believe in capitalism [because it works sort of], I don't mind communists unless they seriously threaten freedom like in Korea and China. Pete had the knack of highlighting what was clearly wrong in the world, particularly America. Its hard to relate how revolutionary that was in the 60s, communications are so good now they make his efforts look quaint.

Al

[colin54]

By coincidence a year after him passing, I came came across these Rainbow Quest shows he did .Some more have been added during 2014.

I particularly liked this one with Elizabeth Cotten (writer of Freight Train), explaining in her own words how she came to be ' discovered ', whilst working in the Seeger

household. These are a great series of programmes to enjoy.E.Cotten starts playing about 32minutes in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI39CeOy_Us

[al_yrpal]

Its so easy to forget what a fine singer Pete was. My current folk favourites are Steve Tilston, the revitalised June Tabor and Gretchen Peters for the country stuff.

Al

[661-Pete]

Seeing that thread title made me jump at first - until I realised it was bumped from a year ago.

I've never been a follower of the genre, but the name did ring a bell with me - back in the good old days of the sixties you could hardly miss his output. So a belated tribute to who was undoubtedly a fine singer and performer.

[fausto copy]

Its so easy to forget what a fine singer Pete was. My current folk favourites are Steve Tilston, the revitalised June Tabor and Gretchen Peters for the country stuff.

Al

I heard Steve Tilston doing a session on the Folk Show maybe 18 months ago and was really impressed.
He then came and played at a local festival last June and despite suffering from a really heavy cold, played a storming set.
Looking at his website I am amazed at his portfolio. Go see if you get the chance folks.
fausto.

And a big recommendation for a great new prospect: Adam Holmes from Edinburgh. Brilliant.