Why PBS Is So Relevant

I'm in the midst of watching the PBS series "American Masters" portrait of ass-kicking poet, performer and political activist Pete Seeger. Awesome. From filmmaker Jim Brown's website about "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song":

For me, Pete Seeger has been one of the most important voices and influential musicians in America. He got a whole generation interested in playing guitar and banjo, got them singing together, and helped introduce America to its own folk heritage, while using music as an instrument for social change.

For a brief period, Pete was a member of the American Communist Party and used music to organize labor unions. Subsequently, he was blacklisted. While Pete sang about unions, civil rights, the environment and peace, the government tried to censor him. He was kept off commercial television for 17 years. In addition, his concerts were often picketed. He never backed down and always stood by his beliefs.

Pete Seeger's ethics are pure. He believes that everyone is equal. He is an American patriot who built his own log cabin and lives simply in the woods. Pete has a complete distrust of commercial forces, pop culture, technology, greed, fame and the corporate and military influences on democracy. He hates the word career, and has no interest in personal gain, shuns publicity and works tirelessly with his wife, Toshi, because he believes we are blindly destroying the world. He might be right. There are lessons to be learned by exploring his life and music.

                               

Here's how those nutcases at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame commemorate this amazing American:

His popularity hit a new peak with We Shall Overcome, a live album recorded at Carnegie Hall that is estimated to have sold half a million copies. 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 (“Turn! Turn! Turn!,” “The Bells of Rhymney”).

PBS also has a nice interview with the filmmaker behind the "American Masters" piece available online.