THE PETITION

Pete Seeger has been a crusader for Peace and Social Justice over the course of his 83 year lifetime. As a prominent musician his songs, messages and performance style have worked to engage other people, particularly the youth, in causes to end the Vietnam war, ban nuclear weapons, work for international solidarity, and ecological responsibility. It is time that a cultural worker receives the recognition that this work has great infulence and global reach, that it is not only a medium of entertainment but of education, compassion and fraternity.

This is a great idea whose time has come. No one deserves this honor more than Pete. He has used folk music as a tool to promote peace and social justice his whole life. He was blacklisted for it during the McCarthy era, but he was never cowed, never broken, and never silenced.

I hope everyone will sign this petition, and there is a discussion forum attached to it too.

....peace

 [ send green star]

“I Have Sung in Hobo Jungles, and I Have Sung for the Rockefellers”: Pete Seeger Refuses to “Sing” for HUAC

During the Cold War era, the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) interrogated more than 3,000 government officials, labor union leaders, teachers, journalists, entertainers, and others. They wanted to purge Communists, former Communists, and “fellow travelers” who refused to renounce their past and inform on associates from positions of influence within American society. Among the Committee’s targets were performers at events held in support of suspect organizations. Pete Seeger acquired a love of American folk music while traveling through the South in the 1930s with his father, a musicologist and classical composer, and as an employee in the Library of Congress’ Archive of American Folk Song. As a folksinger motivated by concerns for social justice, cross-cultural communication, and international peace, Seeger performed songs from diverse sources to many kinds of audiences, and in 1948 campaigned for Progressive Party candidate Henry Wallace as part of the folk music organization People’s Songs. In the following testimony before HUAC, Seeger refused to invoke the Fifth Amendment, protecting citizens from self-incrimination. Instead he insisted that the Committee had no right to question him regarding his political beliefs or associations. This strategy resulted in prison terms for contempt of Congress for the Hollywood Ten in 1947. Seeger himself was sentenced to a year in prison for contempt, but the verdict was reversed in 1962. Nevertheless, Seeger remained on a network television blacklist until the late 1960s.

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

 [ send green star]

I remember watching these trials on TV. I think my parents bought our first tV to watch it.

My Dad, a teacher and musician, was especially impressed that Pete spoke the truth. That Americans should not have to answer such questions.

I was so young that if not for my Dad I wouldn't have been aware of what was going on.

---------------------------------------------

   ....an environmentalist & active advocate of Clearwater...   

   ... he's appeared/performed numerous times at the annual Clearwater revival festival at Croton-on-the-Hudson... 

  ...check it out...  Clearwater Sloop  ...& maybe be a volunteer yourself... 

    xox/kl

 [ send green star]

Which side are you on? 

 [ send green star]

Bring em Home audio:

http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=Bring%20Them%20Home&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.appleseedrec.com%2Fbringthemhome.ram

 [ send green star]

Sorry. Let me try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2pwF9BF1os

 [ send green star]

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/seeger_p.html?campaign=pbshomefeatures_2_americanmastersbrpeteseeger_2008-02-28

AMERICAN MASTERS Pete Seeger: The Power of Song

Where Have all the Flowers Gone is a singalong memoir written by Pete Seeger. This book is now in its third printing (including revisions and additional material). Stories and anecdotes are supported chronologically with approximately 200 songs (music and lyrics) that Pete wrote or with which he is associated - "Guantanamera," "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," "If I Had A Hammer," "Turn Turn Turn," "Wimoweh," "We Shall Overcome" plus some new songs and more. Within these pages, Pete provides perspectives on everything from songwriting and the music business to social activism - including insight drawn from his experiences with the labor, peace, civil rights and environmental movements.

These pages from Where Have all the Flowers Gone feature one of the newer songs written by Pete, added to the book for this new edition. "Take It from Dr. King" is Pete's tribute to the late, great civil rights leader.

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song
(February 27, 2008) 

I did watch this on my local PBS station, but am sure it will be re-broadcast.  I plan on showing it to my kids for some inspiration about the power of music in protest Davida

/>
Bob Dylan

Woody Guthrie

Paul Robeson

Sweet Honey In The Rock

All Music Guide

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Wikipedia

Youtube

 [ send green star]

heres a clip from the very cool american masters program which aired on pbs just last night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh0elZi0KG4

 [ send green star]

Did you see it?

Sing along?

I was too emotional to sing.

When I saw President Obama singing the tears of joy just flowed.

Watch and sing!

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/20/pete_seeger_bruce_springsteen_perform_woody

 [ send green star]

"Pete Seeger at 89" is the name of his new album.

"32 newly recorded songs, instrumentals and spoken word segments that address some of Pete's major concerns: ecology and the environment, the ongoing war {a new recording of the classic, 'Waist Deep in the Big Muddy'}, the need for personal responsibility and activism, the joys of friendship and community. Pete sings or plays {banjo, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, recorder} on all of the tracks, accompanied by Hudson River Valley musicians."

You can get this from the CATALOG, "Tools for Change"/ Syracuse Cultural Workers/P.O.Box 6367/Syracuse, NY 13217-6367.

Another CD in the catalog: "Sowing the Seeds; the 10th Anniversary. Pete Seeger/Various Artists".

"Appleseed celebrates its first decade with this 37-track collection including exclusive new recordings by Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger, Ani DiFranco, Donovan, and more. With nine new tracks specifically recorded for this birthday celebration. A veritable Who's Who of socially aware musicians."

Also, this BOOK is offered in the catalog:

GOOD CHANTS: "More than a dozen songs {to well-known tunes} and 75 chants from the civil rights, labor and peace movements. Guaranteed to make your demonstrations, rallies and sing alongs more rousing, enjoyable and effective. Chanting or singing together builds community and solidarity."

And, finally, one more example of the good stuff in the catalog: "Lullabies From The Axis Of Evil": "Women from Iraq, Iran, and North Korea sing traditional lullabies of their lands, and Western artists offer interpretations of the songs. Songs from other countries and territories that have a prickly history with the US, including Syria, Cuba, Afghanistan and Palestine are included. Across cultures, nationalities and religions, these moving original vocals powerfully express the tenderness we feel for our children."

This is a very good catalog, there's lots and lots more, including posters, buttons, all that rad propaganda stuff.

www.SyracuseCulturalWorkers.com

scw@syracuseculturalworkers.com

MAKE ART NOT WAR!

 [ send green star]