Folksinger Pete Seeger had a remarkable
career, one that spanned seven decades and included song writing, banjo
playing, deep dedication to involving his listeners (often children) in the joy
he took in song, relentless activism, his own strong family, and success
measured by the enormous impact of his work on generations of fans. He believed
in the power of song to make a difference, and it did – in his support of labor
rights, disarmament, civil rights, freedom of speech and environmental
awareness. In Let Your Voice Be Heard: The Life and Times of Pete Seeger,
author Anita Silvey draws on personal interviews with Seeger and extensive
primary documents to create a lively, informative biography. Silvey suggests
that “at a conservative estimate, Pete Seeger performed live for five million
people in forty different countries” over the years with a repertoire based on
the long tradition of folk music and his own conscience and passion for social
justice. Joining with others he contributed such songs as “Where Have All
the Flowers Gone?” and “We Shall Overcome” to an enduring legacy of social
expression. We learn about his time as a cataloguer in the Archive of American
Folk Song at the Library of Congress, his alliance with The Weavers folk group,
the decade he spent in the shadow of accusations by the House Un-American
Activities Committee, his important musical give-and-take with other performers
such as Woody Guthrie, his advocacy of Hudson River cleanup with the
construction of the sloop Clearwater
– and through it all, Seeger honed and shared his music and perspective. In
summary, says Silvey, “His life stands as a testament for social and political
change, reminding everyone to fight for what they believe in and to let their
voices be heard.” Ages 10 up.
