Who is this skinny, 78-year-old man with the five-string banjo, whose performances over five decades have touched millions of people? Entertainer? Composer? Communist? Bob Dylan once called him a "saint." Joan Baez has said, "We all owe our careers to him." But Pete Seeger's considerable musical achievements have been overshadowed by political controversy. He was investigated for sedition by the House Committee on Un-American activities, harassed by the FBI and CIA, blacklisted, picketed, and even stoned by conservative groups. How Can I Keep from Singing is an inside history of Pete Seeger, whose life has remained a closely guarded secret until now. In this ASCAP award-winning book, David Dunaway parts the curtain through interviews with Pete, his family, friends, and fellow musicians to present a rich, compelling portrait of one of the most remarkable performers, composers, and activists of this century.
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Book Description
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About the Author
Dr. David King Dunaway attended the Universities of Wisconsin, Aix-en-Provence, and California (Berkley). He is the author of the recently published Huxley in Hollywood, and teaches biography and oral history at the University of New Mexico.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE LAST HONEST MAN,
By RBI "HIGHLANDER" (UTAH) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: How Can I Keep From Singing: Pete Seeger (Da Capo Paperback) (Paperback)
PETE SEEGER WAS MY FIRST POLITICAL HERO. HIS MUSIC RAISED MY CONSCIOUSNESS AND THAT OF MANY OTHERS OF MY GENERATION. MY UNCLE SANG WITH HIM AT FUNDRAISERS AND I MET HIM SEVERAL TIMES. AS AN ADOLESCENT I TOLD HIM ONCE I HAD ALL HIS RECORDS AND HE FROWNED AND SAID, "DON'T BUY THE RECORDS, LEARN THE SONGS, SING THEM, TEACH THEM TO YOUR FRIENDS". THAT WAS ALL HE SAID, AND I DID AND KEPT DOING IT UNTIL ARTHRITIS AND THE LOSS OF MY VOICE STOPPED ME.
I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT PETE ALTHOUGH I DISAGREE WITH MANY OF HIS VIEWS, WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS. I CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FATHOM HIS CONTINUAL BELIEF IN COMMUNISM, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO ADMIRE, GREATLY, HIS HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND ABILITY TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN HIS VALUES. IS HE A GREAT MAN? YES, WITHOUT A DOUBT, PERHAPS ONE OF OUR GREATEST EVER AND SOME OF HIS VISIONS FOR AN AMERICA OF PEACE, HARMONY AND EQUALITY SHOULD BE HONORED, NOT RIDICULED. THE BOOK IS VERY EVEN IN IT'S TREATMENT OF PETE, BOTH THE POSITIVE AND THE NEGATIVE. IT ALSO GIVES A VERY IMPORTANT IF NOT HORRIFYING LOOK AT THE HATRED, BIGOTRY AND VIOLENCE OF AMERICA THAT PETE BATTLED ALL HIS LIFE. PETE WOULD BE HORRIFIED I'M SURE TO KNOW THAT HE WAS AS MUCH AN HISTORIAN AS HE WAS ORGANIZER, AGITATOR AND PROPHET. BUT LIKE IT OR NOT HE WAS AND IS. THE BOOK SHOULD BE READ BY EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY IF ALL YOU KNOW ABOUT PETE SEEGER ARE THE RIDICULOUS STORIES PUT OUT IN THE 40'S, 50'S AND 60'S BY THOSE WHO HATED HIM.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Make your own music,write your own books,if you want to keep your soul.",
By
This review is from: How Can I Keep From Singing: Pete Seeger (Da Capo Paperback) (Paperback)
"Tell a man what he may not sing,and he is still half free, even all free,. But tell him what he MUST sing if he never wanted to sing, take up his time with it so that his true voice cannot sound even in secret--there,I have seen, is slavery." Pete was born in 1919,started Harvard in 1936,and because it could not hold his interest,he began a lifetime of Folk Music. There was nothing more important in his life than making music and singing his songs with other people. With his wife Toshi ,the unsung hero,always by his side and his home and family a foundation of support;Pete and his music could always be found supporting one cause or another. This book does a marvelous job of showing that Pete fought injustice all his life;no matter whether he found it in a union hall,freedom marches in the south,cotton fields or even the government of the country he so loved. Pete's whole life can be summed up in one song that is now known and sung all over the world and is a war cry against injustice and in support of freedom. "If I had a hammer I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening, All over this land. I'd hammer out a danger, I'd hammer out a warning, I'd hammer out of love and between All of my brothers All over this land. If I had a bell... If I had a song... Now I have a hammer And I have a bell And I have a song to sing All over this land. It's the hammer of justice, It's the bell of freedom, And a song about love between All of my brothers All over this land" Dunaway writes in an easy flowing style and has done an amazing amount of research to make sense of a life that has been central to the whole Folk Music scene that took off in the 1930's and reached its peak in the 50's and 60's and in one way or another continues till today. All one has to do is to think of,hum or hear "We Shall Overcome", "This Land Is Your Land" ,"Deportees" or any of the hundreds of other songs that Pete and his fellow travellers made so popular;and you know what an impact they made on the music scene in North America and many other parts of the world. In this book ,if you have been a fan of Pete,Woody Guthrie,Josh White,Allan Lomax,Doc Watson,Burl Ives,Bob Dylan,Mother Maybell ,The Alamacs,The Weavers,The Kingston Trio,and numerous others ;you are going to find all kinds of things that will surprise you and bring back many memories. The book has many wonderful photos as well as the words to many songs and information behind those songs.Extensive notes on each chapter will provide sources of information that is hard to believe exists.A complete Discography lists all the Pete's recordings ,arranged chronologically and each almum lists each song therein contained. Some time ago ,I found several copies of "Sing Out" magazine,so often mentioned in this book. These are from the 60's and a treasure trove of photos,articles,words and music to songs,and unbelievable information about and playing Folk Music.I checked and found that it is still being published and copies of old issues can still be purchased. "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" Well,there are many who have left us;but many are still around;including Pete himself now 87. The music was well recorded and we are fortunate to have it ;even though it's seldom on Radio or TV. Folk Festivals still exist and mank Folk singers are still appearing at them .One of my favorites,Jackie Washington,continues to play at various venues in Hamilton,Canada. While I'm at it,and just for the benefit of anyone who is looking for something wonderful in the Folk Music area;I would highly recommend,"The Folk Songs of North America" by Alan Lomax. It has the words,music and background to hundreds of Folk Songs. Then again, you might want to find some of the Asch recordings.I have the 4-CD set of Woody Guthrie,an absolute treasure of Folk Songs. Thanks David,you did a wonderful job with this book.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two gifted storytellers,
By A Customer
This review is from: How Can I Keep From Singing: Pete Seeger (Da Capo Paperback) (Paperback)
Mr. Dunaway's writing is giving me a feel for the 1920s, '30s, 40s, and the parts of the '50s that I don't have my own clear memories of. By telling me the story of Pete Seeger, he's also told me parts of the story of my parents' childhood. I'm half-way through my first reading of this (library) book and have decided to get my very own copy.
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