Reference Number
ARC-0214
Level of description
collection
Title
Pete Seeger and Fillmore East Concert Programs
Date
1964, 1971
Size
0.07 (Linear feet)
Scope and Contents
The Pete Seeger and Fillmore East Concert Programs consist of two concert programs, one of which document a Seeger performance in Israel in 1964; the other, the final performance at the Fillmore in 1971.
Biography / Administrative History
Pete Seeger's contribution to folk music, both in terms of its revival and survival, cannot be overstated. With the possible exception of Woody Guthrie, Seeger is the greatest influence on folk music of the last century. Born in New York City, he was the son of musicologist Charles Seeger. He took up the banjo in his teens and, in 1938, at the age of 19, assisted noted folk archivist and field recorder Alan Lomax on his song-collecting trips through the American South. He soon began performing on banjo, guitar, and vocals. Seeger is responsible for such folk standards as "If I Had a Hammer" (originally written by Seeger and Lee Hays of the Weavers as "The Hammer Song") and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone." Seeger's one dalliance with the pop charts came in 1964, when his version of folksinger Malvina Reynolds' exercise in suburban mockery, "Little Boxes," reached #70. Seeger's songs were also popularized by others, principally Peter, Paul and Mary ("If I Had a Hammer," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone") and the Byrds ("Turn! Turn! Turn!," "The Bells of Rhymney"). A tireless champion of causes, Seeger has devoted himself to environmental issues, particularly the cleanup of his beloved Hudson River. In Seeger's capable hands, from the 1940s to the present day, a concert is not regarded as a one-way proceeding but a group singalong. Seeger has recorded and performed tirelessly throughout his career, honoring the folksingers' timeless commitment to spread the word and involve an audience.
Rock promoter Bill Graham opened the Fillmore East at Second Avenue and East Sixth Street in New York's East Village in 1968. During the three years it was open, the Fillmore East hosted artists including the Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Frank Zappa. The Fillmore East closed in 1971.
Notes
Language Note: Materials are in English and Hebrew.
Acquisition Note: The Pete Seeger and Fillmore East Concert Programs were received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. as a gift from Sheldon Rosenzweig on September 7, 2011.
Citation: [Identification of Item], Pete Seeger and Fillmore East Concert Programs, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Processing Information: Processed by Christine Borne, Project Archivist. Completed November 4, 2011. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.
Exhibition History: Pete Seeger program on exhibit, approx. March 2015-July 2015, Memorial exhibit
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
Associated Persons
Associated Subjects