Oh, the songs Pete Seeger is responsible for. Springsteen did a whole album of tunes that Pete made famous. He is an activist of the highest order. He believes in singing songs, and helping you do it, no matter what the voice.
He turned 90 and had a birthday party Sunday night. About 19,000 in Madison Square Garden. Nearly 40 top shelf musicians came out to play and honor Pete. Read the story below for more. Know this: His songs, the ones he writes and the others he chooses to sing, are an encyclopedia of how to protest without bludgeoning. And if he did nothing but sing “This Little Light of Mine” from now until he sails away, he would still be doing more than many who have never tried to do what he does. A legend we are lucky to still have around….
from AP:
A star-studded medley of musical guests played tribute to Pete Seeger at a benefit concert for the legendary folk singer’s 90th birthday.
Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Ani DiFranco and John Mellencamp were among the 40 musicians performing in Madison Square Garden for the Sunday night show, a benefit to raise awareness for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, an organization Seeger started to preserve and protect the Hudson River.
A lone light shone on Seeger as he opened the show playing a flute solo called “Menomonee Love Song.” As the lights came up, they revealed the outline of a sloop, fitting for an event dubbed the Clearwater Concert after the organization’s vessel, the gaff sloop Clearwater.
The crowd ranged from teens to octogenarians and perhaps even older. Springsteen brought them to laughter as he introduced Seeger.
“He’s gonna look a lot like your granddad that wears flannel shirts and funny hats. He gonna look like your granddad if your granddad can kick your a–,” the Boss said. “At 90, he remains a stealth dagger through the heart of our country’s illusions about itself.”
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh0elZi0KG4]