It ran in the family. You see, Charles Seeger was forced to resign from the music department at the University of California, Berkeley because he was an outspoken pacifist during World War I. Frankly, it’s both surprising and warming to recognize that there were war protesters in 1918.
Pete Seeger’s well known banjo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pavdw/ Paul VanDerWerf creative commons 2.0
Pete was born the following year and despite musician parents, he taught himself to play the ukulele at a young age. While he eventually moved on to his beloved banjo, his early ukulele was at the root of his keen ability to cultivate audience rapport. He shared his three rules with countless other performers:
- Look ’em in the eye.
- Make a gesture of inclusion.
- And above all, have a chorus.
Those sentiments stood out for me in the countless tributes that have been paid to this American Tuning Fork over the past days. While Pete often spent his time on the ragged edge of political issues, I believe his powerful skill at connecting with audience ought to be remembered and memorialized. His simple methodology transcended crowds and lay the framework for connectedness, relationship and above all transparent passion for a cause – oh yes, and for his music.
Pete was a prolific songwriter and created music sometimes popularized by others while at the same time, bringing awareness to strong civil rights tunes that had a chorus.
I had the good fortune of seeing Pete perform years ago yet it is in the epitaph, that I am most touched. Today I will look to connect with my audience, be it one or many by looking them in the eye, making a gesture of inclusion and finding our chorus.
Agrigirl's Blog 
dianescholten
/ January 30, 2014My beloved friend Becky, who died 3 years ago Feb 7, was a huge Pete Seeger fan – he autographed her banjo and they sang a song together. I was so sad when he died, but comforted thinking of the celestial jam. Thanks for this great post!
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014Wow, so great that Becky got to sing with him – another example of his gift of inclusion.
cindyricksgers
/ January 30, 2014What a lovely tribute! Thank you, Tammy!
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014You are most welcome.
nrhatch
/ January 30, 2014I had to go to youtube to see what he sang. This is one of my favorites:
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014brings new (or old) meaning to “out of the box”, doesn’t it Nancy?
Lisa H
/ January 30, 2014Pete Seeger was such a great musician and song writer. Your tribute is beautiful.
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014Thanks Lisa.
herbanlifestyle
/ January 30, 2014Thank you for posting a tribute to Pete Seeger, Tammy. I have learned so much about his life over the past few days, and the more I learn, the more impressed I am. As a child, my mother took me to see one of his performances in conjunction with the Clearwater, his sloop that traveled along the Hudson River to raise awareness about the state of that majestic body of water. Most recently, I saw him perform alongside Bruce Springsteen at the “We are One” Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in 2009. What an amazing life he had, and what an amazing gift he was to our world.
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014Well, aren’t you the bomb seeing the whole Clearwater thing? I’m envious of experiences like that one!
herbanlifestyle
/ February 1, 2014I was very lucky to have grown up close to the Hudson River. I’m glad that you were able to see him perform – where was it that you saw him?
Tammy
/ February 1, 2014in Denver but I can’t remember the venue. I do remember a lady behind me opening a can of tuna fish and eating though. It was indoors so she was rather pungent.
Letty Flatt
/ January 30, 2014Nice Tammy. I was a fan of Pete’s too. We are all lucky to have his songs in our brains.
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014And a hammer in our hearts!
hotlyspiced
/ January 30, 2014That’s a lovely tribute to a very talented musician. The banjo is such a great instrument yet I’ve heard it’s very difficult to play well xx
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014It is supposed to be very difficult and that may be the reason that he said his best accomplishment was his “how to play the banjo” book. I don’t remember the exact title but I’m sure it is selling well this week.
zuludelta45
/ January 30, 2014My personal Pete Seeger Story …Zulu Delta
http://zuludelta45.net/2014/01/29/a-man-walks-into-a-tent/
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014Thank you for sharing this story.
nats1mom
/ January 30, 2014Thank you, Tammy, for the great tribute to a talented and warm-hearted individual. I, too, learned a lot about Pete and was especially touched to hear he worshiped and was VERY much in love with his wife, Toshi. NPR interviewed Pete’s godchild – a great and informative interview. Thank you!!!
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014The NPR interviews were well done and you know, Toshi only past a few months ago. So great that his grandson is a musician also.
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
/ January 30, 2014A lovely post Tammy 🙂
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014for a lovely guy.
Rukmini Roy
/ January 31, 2014Beautiful! 🙂
Tammy
/ January 31, 2014Thank you Rukmini.
Inger Wilkerson
/ February 2, 2014How lucky you were to see him perform. I was the hugest folk music fan growing up!
Tammy
/ February 8, 2014I still love it. I listen to coffee house on Sirius.
nancy at good food matters
/ February 5, 2014beautiful post, Tammy. I love the image of his banjo, and the words of advice. What a long and fruitful life he had.
Tammy
/ February 5, 2014Indeed Nancy. His banjo, his words, his unassuming demeanor and fiery desire to right the wrong – all assembled in a beautiful love story and told through the generations by his grandchildren musicians.
Jane
/ February 5, 2014What a beautiful tribute. Truly a powerful voice. I grew up singing his songs, although most of them on my parent’s Peter, Paul and Mary records.
Tammy
/ February 5, 2014That was my first exposure also Jane – thru P,P&M! They made hits of a couple of his songs.
hippydude
/ February 5, 2014Back in the 60’s When I was living in the bay area when Public Television (KQED) was National Educational Television (NET) Pete had a wonderful show on called Rainbow Quest in syndication where he featured so many talented musicians. Among the guests featured on the program’s 39 episodes were Johnny Cash, June Carter, Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson, The Stanley Brothers, Elizabeth Cotten, Patrick Sky, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Tom Paxton, Judy Collins, Donovan, Richard Fariña and Mimi Fariña, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Mamou Cajun Band, Bernice Johnson Reagon, The Beers Family, Roscoe Holcomb, Cousin Emmy and Shawn Phillips. He bridged cultural and musical gaps with his easy going welcoming nature…it always felt like he was right there in your living room with you. Thanks for your tribute to one of our American treasures. Pete’s crossed
the rainbow bridge and is jammin’ with Woody and Leadbelly now.
Tammy
/ February 8, 2014Wow – what a show and it’s good to know that his ability to connect made it right through the TV too. I feel blessed to have seen him perform.