Pete Seeger tribute: His whole life, Seeger performed music to bring joy to world nydailynews/entertainment/music/pete-seeger-performed-music-bring-joy-world-article-1.2061403 EXCLUSIVE: Seeger, a folk legend who died on Jan. 27, 2014, believed a musician’s job was to bring joy to the world and make everyone feel like the performance was just for them. Thats precisely what he did throughout his life. He also inspired others to do something of value for other people. BY DAVID AMRAM SPECIAL TO NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Tuesday, December 30, 2014, 8:23 PM A A A David Amran, Pete Seeger, and Dizzy Gillespie are seen at Clearwater Festival in this undated photo. THOM WOLKE David Amran, Pete Seeger, and Dizzy Gillespie are seen at Clearwater Festival in this undated photo. I first met Pete Seeger 65 years ago when my mother took me to a Henry Wallace rally in 1948 when I was about to turn 18. Pete was playing the banjo and having such a good time, even the politicians were smiling. When he was done, he walked into the audience and hung out with everybody. I remember thinking, Id like to meet him and be like that myself someday. Pete remained that way his entire life. He felt that the musicians job, whether you were playing a folk festival, a bar, a prison or conducting a symphony, was to bring joy to the world and make everyone feel you were doing it just for them, and that they were all part of the experience. I remember driving with Pete up in Putnam Valley, N.Y., about five years ago. As we passed an empty field, Pete gestured and said it was the spot where a mob threw rocks at his familys station wagon after Paul Robesons concert turned into an anti-communist riot. He said he came to accept what had happened as a necessary wake-up call for America to see a side of itself and realize that we could do better. He even used some of the rocks to build the chimney in his new house. He also said something so startling, I wrote it down. I bear no ill will toward Sen. (Joseph) McCarthy or the House Un-American Activities Committee. They did what they believed was right. And I did what I believed was right. And Im proud that I did, he told me. Ever since he chose his path, Pete stayed on it and walked the walk he talked and inspired generations to raise their voices in song, to always think of others and to share whatever blessings they have with others. Pete Seeger and David Amram are seen at a music event on Aug. 3 2013. CORUTESY OF DAVID AMRAM Pete Seeger and David Amram are seen at a music event on Aug. 3 2013. Pete, a Mayflower descendant, never snubbed or disrespected anybody. And he and his wife Toshi would dress you down if you ever did. He told me one afternoon that we were supposed to bring harmony to the world and that in order to have the bird fly free, it needed both the left and the right wing to work together. He and Toshi spent hours showing me how to try to become a better father for my own three beautiful kids and the importance of trying to set an example for all the worlds children by avoiding the plagues of egomania, narcissism, careerism and rude behavior. I was fortunate enough to be able to say goodbye to him during the last two hours of his life on Jan. 27, 2014. As Guy Davis, Pat Humphries and I played some music for him and his family in his hospital room, we could feel his spirit fill our hearts with that endless energy he shared with the world for 94 years. Pete Seeger and David Amram in 2013.Pete Seeger and David Amram in 2013.PreviousNextPete Seeger and David Amram in 2013. Pete Seeger and David Amram in November of 2011 at an Occupy Wall Street March. Enlarge COURTESY OF DAVID AMRAM Pete was a great person and has left us all a better world by all that he did and the inspiration he engendered in all of us to do something of value for others while we are here. It is not often that many 84 year olds like myself have the chance to have someone older than themselves to look up to and to spend time with, as well to as collaborate with musically. Now, I wont have a chance to play with Pete Seeger anymore, but I will still continue to look up to him every day of my life.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 04:57:14 +0000
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