BEA Best of Festival - Faculty Audio Winner: David Dunaway

Pete's 90th from Madison Square Gardens

Photo: MSG Photos/George Kalinsky

For those of you who, like me, didn't get to attend the sold-out concert at Madison Square Gardens, here are some great shots by George Kalinsky and Chad Batka.

Free Lecture "Writing vs. Broadcasting: Pete Seeger"

I'm doing a free lecture in San Francisco on May 9th from 3 to 5 pm. It's going to be in room 609 of SF State's downtown campus at 835 Market St.

Here is the information from the flier:

Have you, as a writer, student or producer, ever wondered whether to pursue a project in print vs. broadcast form? For two dozen years David King Dunaway has lived at the crossroads of writing and broadcasting, producing award-winning radio and TV documentaries. Currently Distinguished Visiting Professor at San Francisco State, Dunaway will present a look into the life of folk musician Pete Seeger, to consider the differences between presenting a life in print and in broadcast form.

Using his recent biography of Seeger and his parallel national radio series, Dunaway discusses the hard, practical choices producers face in deciding between formats, including the grammars of different media, and the advantages and disadvantages of working in each.

Known in the Bay Area as a radio DJ and producer, Dunaway is the author of a half-dozen volumes of history and biography.

In a free public lecture on Saturday, May 9th from 3-5pm-- in room 609 of SF State’s downtown campus at 835 Market St.-- Dunaway will reflect on the dilemmas of moving between print and broadcast. Part master class, part lecture, the public is invited to listen (and sing along!) to some of Pete Seeger’s most famous songs, and to learn of the repression Seeger (and other musicians) suffered at the hands of the FBI, and CIA . The event is sponsored by the Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department in the College of Creative Arts of San Francisco State University.
For more information, reporters can email dunaway@unm.edu or call (505) 977-4968

Television appearance

Following the BEA Festival, I'll be flying to Albany, New York, to appear on an American Public Television showing of the 1963 Pete Seeger concert at Melbourne's Town Hall, "Pete Seeger: Live in Australia 1963," for which I wrote the liner notes.

The program is being broadcast from the studio's of WMHT-TV (channel 17 in Albany) from 7 to 8pm.

The DVD will be released to the general public later this month.

Radio Series available from PRX.org

Vermont Public Radio has just picked up the series - right there in Pete Seeger Country!

My three-part radio series, Pete Seeger: How Can I Keep From Singing?, which ran nationwide last summer and fall on over 230 PRI stations, is being re-released and is now available to subscribers at www.PRX.org. You can listen to samples there, or at our series site, Peteseeger.org.

Public Radio Exchange (AKA PRX) is an online marketplace for distribution, review, and licensing of public radio programming. This is a great resource for community stations who may not be affiliated with the large public radio networks, but still want quality third-party content. Even if you aren't a radio station, you can subscribe and listen to content online.

CD sets of the series are also being offered to Libraries and Sound Archives.

If you have any questions regarding the series, whether you are a PD, a librarian, sound archivist, or any other interested party, please contact us at wrtgsw@unm.edu.

90th Birthday Celebration for Pete!

I'll be doing a radio program in Berkeley celebrating Pete's Birthday on May 3rd. I'm really sorry to miss this one.~DKD
_________________________________________
NEW YORK, March 18, 2009 —The Clearwater Concert: Creating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders, a star-studded, one night only concert event celebrating Pete Seeger’s 90th Birthday, will be held on Sunday, May 3, at 7PM, at Madison Square Garden. This once-in-a-lifetime concert event will benefit and raise awareness for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, founded by Pete Seeger, which strives to preserve and protect the Hudson River. Seeger, a legendary folk singer, political activist and avid environmentalist, has long inspired social change through his extraordinary life and music. The Clearwater Concert: Creating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders will feature over 40 artists representing a wide variety of musical genres and generations, including Joan Baez, Ben Harper, Ani DiFranco, Dave Matthews, Michael Franti, Emmylou Harris, Juanes, John Mellencamp, Tao Rodriguez–Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, Taj Mahal, Eddie Vedder, and Keller Williams. The evening, hosted by Clearwater, will focus on ensemble renditions of musical treasures inspired by Pete Seeger.

American Express pre-sale tickets will be available starting Monday, March 23 at 9AM. Public on-sale will begin Monday, March 30 at 9AM. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com and range from $19.19-$250, with a majority priced at $90 to honor Pete’s birthday. Special Clearwater Legacy Tickets will also be available. For more information, please visit www.Seeger90.com.

“Pete Seeger’s historic contributions to the environmental movement and the fight for social justice have inspired millions of people. Approaching 90, his great deeds shine on and continue to remind us that nothing is beyond our reach. Clearwater thanks the many gracious musicians gathering to celebrate Pete’s life and help create a living legacy in his honor: the next generation of environmental leaders,” said Jeff Rumpf, Executive Director for Clearwater.

Confirmed artist lineup (subject to change):

Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet
Ani DiFranco
Arlo Guthrie
Bela Fleck
Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses)
Ben Harper
Bernice Johnson Reagon
Billy Bragg
Billy Nershi (String Cheese Incident)
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Springsteen
Dar Williams
Dave Matthews
Eddie Vedder
Emmylou Harris
Guy Davis
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason
Joan Baez
John Mellencamp
Juanes
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Keller Williams
Kris Kristofferson
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Larry Long
Michael Franti
Mike & Ruthy Merenda
Native American Indian Cultural Alliance
NYC Labor Chorus
Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Del McCoury
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
Richie Havens
Scarlet Moore
Silvio Rodriguez
Steve Earle
Taj Mahal
Tao Rodriguez-Seeger
Tom Chapin
Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)
Tom Paxton
Tommy Sands
Tony Trischka
Toshi Reagon
Warren Haynes

ABOUT CLEARWATER

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is an environmental organization with the mission to preserve and protect the Hudson River through inspiration, education and action. Legendary folk musician and activist Pete Seeger founded the organization in 1966 when he decided to “build a boat to save the river” with the belief that a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries would bring people to the river, where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve it. Thus inspired, the 106-feet-long tall ship Clearwater was launched three years later.

Since 1969 almost half a million people have experienced the Hudson River first-hand — its living organisms, water chemistry and ecological principals — aboard the sloop Clearwater. Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 for its role in the environmental movement, the Clearwater was among the first vessels in the U.S. to conduct science-based environmental education aboard a sailing ship, effectively creating a template by which such programs are conducted around the world today. Clearwater’s environmental education programs now serve more than 15,000 students and their teachers annually, and the organization’s members have helped push for passage of the landmark Clean Water Act and fight for removal of toxic PCBs from the Hudson.

To help raise awareness for its mission, Clearwater presents the Great Hudson River Revival each June at Croton Point Park, located in Westchester County, an hour north of New York City. This two-day music festival will take place June 20-21, 2009. Tickets go on sale on March 17, 2009. Year after year, Clearwater’s unique approach to public outreach has made the Clearwater a symbol of grassroots action through hands-on learning, music and celebration. www.clearwater.org/festival.

Please visit the www.clearwater.org for more information on Clearwater and its programs.
(Source: Sing Out News Service)

Seeger receives 2009 Freemuse Award

The American singer, songwriter, activist, environmentalist, and peace advocate Pete Seeger is The Freemuse Award Winner 2009. He is awarded on Music Freedom Day, 3 March 2009, for his commitment to musicians' freedom of expression in an illustrious career which spans over sixty years.

“Pete Seeger's voice has been one which has constantly been on the side of the oppressed and which has refused to remain silent in even the darkest hours. He remains an inspiration to those musicians who seek to use their work for the greater benefit of mankind,’ wrote the nominating committee.

Although Pete Seeger does not believe in awards, he accepted the Freemuse Award. In a statement Pete Seeger quotes an old Arab proverb:

‘When the king puts a poet on his payroll, he cuts off the tongue of the poet!’

Pete Seeger adds: “But throughout history, songwriters have found ways to get around this problem by putting together songs that people like to sing and teach to their friends.”

Blacklisted in 1955
Pete Seeger faced censorship for decades in his music career for promoting peace, justice, and equality in his music. In 1955 Seeger was blacklisted from work when he was subpoenaed to testify before the US House of Un-American Activities Committee, and he refused to testify citing his guarantee to freedom of expression.

Boycotted by commercial venues and media, Pete Seeger continued performing for young people at universities and rallies and created a boom of folk music. His songs played an essential role in the civil rights movement. It was his variation of an old spiritual, which Seeger called ‘We Shall Overcome’, that has become an anthem of the crusade for equality in America.

TV performance cut by censors
The Vietnam War deeply and personally offended Pete Seeger, who used his network television return on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to air a scathing attack on Lyndon Johnson's war policies, "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy." The song was cut by network censors, but Seeger made a second appearance on the programme and sang the song without interruption. When folk-rock band The Byrds recorded his legendary song ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’, Pete Seeger’s music reached millions of young people all over the world.

Seeger has never stopped. He recently joined his grandson Tao Rodriquez-Seeger and old friend Bruce Springsteen at the American president Obama’s inauguration, performing for hundred of thousands.

In 2006, Bruce Springsteen recorded `We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions´, reinterpreting 13 songs from Seeger's songbook.

Grandson Tao attends award ceremony
The Award Ceremony will take place at Stockholm’s Concert Hall, marking the Music Freedom Day on 3 March.

Pete Seeger does not like to travel far these days, so he has requested grandson Tao Rodriquez-Seeger, an established artist on his own, to travel to Stockholm and receive the Freemuse Award on his behalf.

World-renowned Swedish glass designer Göran Wärff has created the Freemuse Award statuette. The Award is sponsored by BAIK — the Björn Afzelius International Culture Foundation, which was initiated in memory of Swedish rock singer Björn Afzelius who died 1999. Afzelius was a political activist and a strong spokesman for suppressed people.

To inspire
“At Freemuse we deal daily with the horrors of music censorship. We document how artists are being harassed, jailed and even killed. Pete Seeger continues to inspire artists and human rights activists all over the world,” says Marie Korpe, Freemuse's executive director.

Last year, the exiled Ivorian reggae artist Tiken Jah Fakoly received the Freemuse Award. Tiken Jah Fakoly has been forced into exile being a strong critic of political corruption in his home country.

SOURCE: Freemuse.org
IMAGE: www.freemuse.org

More big news

We just got the word today that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) wants to license my radio series Pete Seeger: How Can I Keep From Singing? to run on the CBC-2 program, Inside the Music.

This is a huge deal. As I understand it, CBC-2 was, until last September, a "serious" music channel. Recently it underwent a format change and is focusing on Canadian Artists, with the occasional foray into Americans such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and now, apparently, Pete Seeger. Unlike our U.S. public radio stations, each of which chooses its programming, CBC-2 is broadcast nationwide.

When I get broadcast dates, I'll post them here and on peteseeger.org.

San Diego School Board Formally Apologizes to Pete Seeger

The San Diego School Board approved a resolution Tuesday night declaring that the board "deeply regrets its predecessors' actions" and offered an apology to Pete Seeger for making him sign a pre-performance loyalty pledge in 1960. Here is a link to a piece by CBC-Radio in Canada cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20090216 The program will play in Windows Media Player. Select Program 2. The piece starts at 12:42.

Here is a link from NBC San Diego regarding the apology.

Congratulations Pete!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Pete Seeger was nominated for his most recent album, At 89. We're happy to say that, though the competition was stiff (albums by Pete's sister, Peggy, Tom Paxton, as well as Kathy Mattea's outstanding Coal being among the other nominations) Pete received the Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album.

This is his second Grammy in this category, having won in 1997 for his album Pete. Seeger was also honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.

Congratulations Pete!

Pete Seeger: How Can I Keep From Singing?

For those of you who haven't heard my 3-part radio series, Pete Seeger: How Can I Keep From Singing?, we're gearing up for a second run this May 3rd in honor of Pete's 90th birthday.

Stay tuned for updates on when and where the program will be running in your area.

If you can't wait that long, you can always purchase the 3-CD set at my website, davidkdunaway.com

If you're a Program Director who is interested in running this series, you can contact Rick Raab-Faber at wrtgsw@unm.edu for details on where the series is available. If you'd like to listen to samples or just read a little more, check out the series website, peteseeger.org.

Pete sings with Bruce Springsteen at the Obama Inauguration

[UPDATE: Original YouTube video from German television was pulled for terms violation. Here is the HBO version]

Watch more Dailymotion videos on AOL Video

My associate Rick noted that "it's a great day in America when Barack Obama, Pete Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen appear before the world from our nation's capital." (Rick's a huge Springsteen fan.)

Thanks to AOL.com and HBO for keeping this video up.

Guantanamera

Here's some old footage of Pete singing Guantanamera. I'm not sure of the exact origin of this video posted on You Tube.

I have an old archival recording I made when I was about 14 years old at Camp Abellard in New York. Pete came and sang to us campers and I had a chance to record it on reel-to-reel tape. After the performance, he signed some autographs and chatted with the kids. I had a chance to introduce him to one of the campers there, Cesar, a young man from Cuba who wanted to play a song for Pete. That song was Guantanamera, a Cuban folk song from a poem by Jose Marti, and it was the first time Pete heard it. In the recording, Pete asks the Cesar to write the lyrics out for him, and he asked me to send him a copy of the recording.

A Nobel Prize for Pete Seeger?

A January 19th article -- by Peter Dreier in the Huffington Post, no less -- notes the growing call for Pete Seeger to be given the Nobel Peace Prize.

There's also a website -- nobelprize4pete.org -- where you can sign a petition to honor this man for his uncompromising and unyielding dedication to to goals of peace and justice. The important thing to note here is that the prize is only given to living individuals. Pete's 90th birthday is coming up in early May, so time really is of the essence.

Grammy Nomination for Pete

Pete Seeger's been nominated for a Best Traditional Folk Grammy for his "At 89" CD released earlier this year. Among others, he's up against Appleseed labelmate (and sister) Peggy Seeger for her album "Bring Me Home."

Others nominated in this category are Kathy Mattea,Tom Paxton, and Rosalie Sorrels.

Never too early...

Hi all,

Rick here, from David's office. I just wanted to remind you that David's book and radio series on the life of the great Pete Seeger would make great gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

They're available for $19.95 each (plus shipping)at his Author's Guild website.

We've gotten a really wonderful response from PRI listeners who've heard the radio program over the past 4 months. So many people who grew up listening to Pete Seeger's music. This is a three part audio series that mixes Pete's music with interviews of folks who new him.

Of the book, How Can I Keep From Singing? The Ballad of Pete Seeger, the late Studs Turkel said, "This biography is a beauty. It captures not only the life of the bard but the world of which he sings."

For the real fan, you could also pick up Pete's newest CD, At 89, from our friends over at Appleseed Recordings

Cheers,
Rick

Pete Seeger in "Pitchfork" ezine

In response to finding out about the online music magazine "Pitchfork,"Pete Seeger was quoted on New York Magazine's website as saying "An Internet magazine! So you don't have to cut down trees. I'll be damned."

Pete was interviewed by Joshua Klein for a November 3rd article. Check it out at Interview: Pete Seeger.

For those of you who are unaware, I've written the definitive biography of the great Pete Seeger, "How Can I Keep From Singing?". This year also marked the release of the Public Radio International series, "Pete Seeger:How Can I Keep From Singing?" you can check them out and pick up a copy or two at davidkdunaway.com.