If you like Pete Seeger, then visit my blog "Move Left" today.

[Eric J in MN]

http://moveleft.com

PERMALINK to Pete Seeger article:
http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2005_05_20_fun_keep_your_eyes_on_the_prize_pete_seeger.asp

[skooooo]

1. Pete....

...I have nothing personal against Seeger, but the people I've known that were REALLY into him, and even knew him personally have been insufferable and closed-minded about their liberalness.

Pete could never get over the fact that Dylan could branch out and do different things and still be relevant.

Anyway, nothing reflective of you, I just felt like throwing it out there.

[Eric J in MN]

2. OK. Other musicians have fans who aren't perfect, either (nt)

nt

[skooooo]

3. Pete's fine..

...what about Woody Guthrie? Like him?

[Eric J in MN]

9. I'm not very familiar with Woody Guthrie (nt)

nt

[skooooo]

10. Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Will Geer were good friends..

...and fellow travelers. Will Geer = Grandpa Walton.

[seemslikeadream]

4. The myth of Newport '65:

The myth of Newport '65:

The person who's coming up now is a person who has in a sense

two brief bursts of feedback hum

changed the face of folk music to the large American public because he has brought to it a point of view of a poet. Ladies and gentlemen, the person that's going to come up now

Yarrow pauses a long time, drawing it out; a few hoots at the pause from the audience

has a limited amount of time

very loud booing and yelling, shouts of "No, no, no"

his name is Bob pause Dylan

enthusiastic and sustained cheering and applause from the audience that had watched the electric band set up and which was now watching Dylan plug in his own electric guitar

a minute or so of noises of things being moved around, levels checked, voices talking about where to set things. No hoots, jeers, calls, or yells from the audience.Minutes 0:00—7.32 on the tape

DYLAN AND GROUP: "Maggie's Farm,"
www.buffaloreport.com/020826dylan.html

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. So should we hold

every stupid thing you've ever said against you?

Musically Seeger is a traditionalist not a liberal. He was consistent with his personal POV about what folks music is and isn't. Times have changed a lot since then but many 'traditional' music gathering still don't allow electric instruments.

[skooooo]

7. "musically" a traditionalist...

Well, yes, I'd agree that musically he was a traditionalist. BUT! He expressedly used his music to spread a "message," which is often labeled (and I think not uncorrectly) "liberal."

I believe he was blacklisted in the 50s. My point is that the people I've seen to closely associate with good old Pete have been very close minded to anything beyond a very scripted, inflexible "liberal" doctrine. That's just my experience. Doesn't mean that is true all the time.

Having acknowledged this is just MY EXPERIENCE, I still maintain that Pete also displayed such traits - most famously as it pertained to his treatment of Dylan.

That is my subjective, (although not totally uninformed) impression.

[Tuttle]

12. I hesistate to post BUT...

I played music with Seeger and have been a guest at his home on numerous occasions...

I won't tell all the stories I could but I will say that skooooo might want to put that brush down for a moment: re-examine what you are saying because you sound a bit like what you find repelent about Seeger and Co.

That said, I once was completely taken aback by some young socialist, spewing pro-Moscow props at a Sloop Club meeting - I told Pete I trusted Moscow about as much as I trusted Washington: he seemed to agree but felt the speaker had every right say whatever he wanted.

Tut-tut

[OneBlueSky]

13. I've known Pete and Toshi for over 35 years . . .

and also spent a good deal of time at his home way back when . . . his circle of friends is w-a-a-a-a-y to broad and diverse to paint with such a broad brush . . .

[skooooo]

14. ..interesting..

It's good to hear these encounters. I don't know why you think this observation contradicts or disproves my impressions. It doesn't surprise me because a lot of people around him were of a socialist bent.

Good for Pete - but who's to say he wasn't in complete agreement with the pro-Moscow fellow ?? And if so, where's the heroism in agreeing with that?

I do know that he denigrated and showed public disapproval of Dylan for going outside the tradition. For that reason, I think of him as having some sort of orthodoxy that you either buy into or don't. Since I don't know the man, it doesn't really affect me. Pete's human, that's all.

[BobRossi]

6. A great American hero

"I Have Sung in Hobo Jungles, and I Have Sung for the Rockefellers"

"I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this. I would be very glad to tell you my life if you want to hear of it."

From testimony given before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC)

http://www.historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6457/

[Eric J in MN]

15. I wish I could say today's Congress is much better, but... (nt)

nt

[XemaSab]

8. Best Seeger quote ever:

"Some may find them merely diverting melodies. Others may find them incitements to Red revolution. And who will say if either or both is wrong? Not I."

[Eric J in MN]

11. If you're not familiar with Pete Seeger,

listening won't take much of your time:

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2005_05_20_fun_keep_your_eyes_on_the_prize_pete_seeger.asp