Born on the 3rd of May 1919, Pete Seeger, was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead Belly's "Goodnight, Irene", which topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. Members of the Weavers were blacklisted during the McCarthy Era.
While his parents taught at various universities, Seeger attended boarding schools. As a teen, he traveled to the South with his father, and although at first, he dreamed of being a painter he saw local musicians at a North Carolina folk festival playing 5-string banjos. once he had heard a five-string-banjo for the first time, he fell in love with music. Over many years he had developed a great talent for making music. His family was overjoyed at his newfound love of music. He attended Harvard University and studied sociology. On approaching the final exams, he dropped out to pursue his dream of studying music all over the country. After living this dream for a few years, a war had started, and in 1942 he was drafted into possibly the deadliest war in history. Against all odds, he survived and found love in the midst of it all. He married Toshi Ohta in 1943, they stayed together until her death in 2013. Pete met Woody Guthrie in 1943 the two formed a band called the Almanac Singers, and over time added a few more members. While the band's lifespan was brief, it led to new opportunities for the members. Lee Hayes, a former member of the Almanac Singers, formed a new band with Pete and called it The Weavers. They sang for many years together, but in 1958, Pete left the band to pursue a solo career, also to use his influence to fight for civil rights. His image gradually changed from a folk singer to a human rights activist, and he was proud of it. He dedicated the rest of his life to making a change in the world, to allow for real freedom in what should be the land of the free. He wasn't alone, though his wife was also a believer in human rights. Especially since her nationality was a German living in America during the second world war, she knew what it was like to be discriminated against. Together the two made a huge difference in the progress of the civil rights movement. Pete Seeger still lives today, and he makes every effort to help people in need.
