Pete Seeger turns 90 with birthday concert in NYC

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: AP

NEW YORK – Pete Seeger is still singing strong at age 90.

More than 40 performers turned out to honor the legendary folk singer at a birthday concert at New York's Madison Square Garden Sunday night. The lineup included Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, and John Mellencamp.

Seeger opened the show playing flute solo called "Menomenee Love Song."

The show ended with Seeger and all his guests doing an extended cover of Woody Guthrie's "This Land is My Land."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/ap_on_en_mu/us_pete_seeger_concert

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[Judi Lynn]

1. Who could not love his version of "Guantanamera?"

You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EJ1kZ0yBzg

[LeftishBrit]

2. Happy Birthday, and many more, to a great singer!

[OneBlueSky]

3. Happy Birthday, Pete! . . . may you have many more years . . .

as the "river singer" for our beloved Hudson . . . you've been a huge influence in many lives including my own, and we all thank you for showing us how to live authentically, gracefully, and compassionately . . . Clearwater is a living testament to your vision and to our shared understanding of our interdependence and interconnectedness . . .

sorry I couldn't make this party, but I look forward to joining you for the 100th! . . .

[Miss Authoritiva]

4. That man's strength, optimism, and joy....

are truly inspirational. And he should be awarded a special Nobel-type award for his efforts in cleaning up the Hudson River.

[keith the dem]

5. If anyone was there........WE NEED A REPORT!!!!

unfiltered by the media.

P.S. I'm very jealous

[Bjorn Against]

8. I was there and I am going to write a report tonight...

I actually live in Minnesota and I just arrived home from my flight a few minutes ago. I had an amazing time out there, I not only got to go to the party at Madison Square Gardens, but I also got to go to a small semi-private birthday party for him on Friday with only about 100 other people and I also got to ride on the Clearwater. It was a full Pete Seeger weekend, and I have some good stories to tell so I will write in more detail later.

[RoccoR5955]

13. Report from MSG Seeger Birthday Bash

It was a great event. There wasn't a dry eye in the house of 18,500 people. Many great performers came together to pay tribute to the conscience of the world, in Pete, who turned 90. Pete, being the humble human that he is, made sure that this is a benefit to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, an environmental group that he founded, whose purpose is to educate people about the River, and see that it is cleaned up.
http://www.clearwater.org

I have been active with the organization for about 30 years, and Pete has been a personal friend for almost as long. I did my own volunteer stint there, after I purchased a ticket! I signed up almost 100 people to volunteer to do something for Clearwater. I met people at the concert who I haven't seen in years. It was a great tribute to a personal hero of us all.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Related story, Cuba's greatest living musician/singer refused visa to attend Seeger's birthday:

This was posted by DU'er magbana this morning in the Latin America forum:

State Dept. fails to issue visa to Silvio Rodriguez to Perform at Pete Seeger's 90th B'Day in NY
Posted by magbana

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x14777

See his video, "Ojala," on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u80ocuvZxmY

[DinahMoeHum]

7. Bruce Springsteen: "Pete. . .you outlasted the bastards. . ."

I'll try to get in a report tonight. Yes, I was there.

[DebbieCDC]

9. Bruce & Pete

:loveya:

I would have given anything to be there!

[No Elephants]

10. After Seeger, they broke the mold. An absolutely astounding man. Hope he lives

to 130, as healthy as he is now.

[EFerrari]

11. Amy did a lovely tribute today, fyi!

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/4/legendary_folk_singer_activist_pete_seeger

[CrawlingChaos]

14. That was great, wasn't it?

I was particularly interested in the story of Pete's appearance on The Smothers Brothers Show, overcoming CBS censorship to sing "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy" and evidently striking a major blow against the Vietnam War's already waning public support. I guess the Smothers Brothers was THE big show back in those days, so something like that could have a big impact. Those were the days I guess! (when the gov't gave two shits about public opinion, apparently)

[EFerrari]

15. Hi there. I was an early teen and almost remember that show.

In a way, it wasn't very different than now. If public opinion disagrees, it just gets buried.

I was too young to really appreciate Seeger at the time. So glad people like Amy celebrate him so I can catch up on what I missed then.

[nichomachus]

12. I spent a day with Pete back in 1970.

He was doing a concert locally and stayed in the house where I was living with four other people. We all had lunch and dinner together. What a charming guy!