PETE SEEGER : SINGER - SONGWRITER - ACTIVIST WALKED WITH TWO CANES THROUGH OCCUPY MOVEMENT CAMP

SF GATE : PETE SEEGER - SINGER SONGWRITER ACTIVIST

 A portion of the article by MICHAEL HILL and CHRIS TALBOTT, Associated Press.

 

"With his lanky frame, use-worn banjo and full white beard, Seeger was an iconic figure in folk music who outlived his peers. He performed with the great minstrel Woody Guthrie in his younger days and wrote or co-wrote "If I Had a Hammer," ''Turn, Turn, Turn," ''Where Have All the Flowers Gone" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine." He lent his voice against Hitler and nuclear power. A cheerful warrior, he typically delivered his broadsides with an affable air and his fingers poised over the strings of his banjo.

 

In 2011, the canes kept Seeger from carrying his beloved instrument while he walked nearly 2 miles with hundreds of protesters swirling around him holding signs and guitars. With a simple gesture — extending his friendship — Seeger gave the protesters and even their opponents a moment of brotherhood the short-lived movement sorely needed..."

CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS POSTS ON PETE!
 

THIS VIDEO WAS MADE WHEN PETE WAS 74.

PETE SEEGER : A SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS SONGWRITER

Linking to the SONGWRITER'S HALL OF FAME - PETE SEEGER PAGE PETE SEEGER - SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME right here!

"In 1949, he joined with Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman to form The Weavers, one of the most successful and influential folk music groups ever... Pete Seeger has always been a socially conscious songwriter. Inspired by the movement, Seeger wrote “We Shall Overcome”, based on an old spiritual. The song quickly became the anthem of the movement. Since the end of the 1960s, Seeger has been increasingly involved in the environment movement, another source of inspiration... Among some of Seeger’s other hit songs are "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (written with The Weavers), "Wimoweh" (written with The Weavers and based on the African song “Mbube”, by Soloman Linda), and "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season"), a number one hit for The Byrds in 1965."

(459) THE BYRDS GIVE THE BEATLES A RUN FOR THE CHARTS

THE BYRDS OFFICIAL SITE  link here for their story their way!
David Crosby
Chris Hillman
Roger McGuinn
Gene Clark

Michael Clarke  (The Byrds official site has links for each of these musicians individually as well!)

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME BYRDS PAGE link here!

The Byrds were predicted to give the Beatles a real run for the charts.  I remember talking to Elmer Bernstein and Bob Dylan about the Byrds one night on the Sunset Strip. Elmer was really excited about them. "They're better than the Beatles ! he cried out, as one of their songs was broadcast on the radio.

Bob just smiled.  He had placed songs with them and was already recieving money on their recordings of his songs, which were hits for them.  Look at that line up though.  Every name on that list was a unique talent if not creative genius and they all went on to write winning songs and make music with other groups after the Byrds.

"Turn Turn Turn" was written by PETE SEEGER.