Our Pete Seeger
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- February
- 29
When you think “Pete Seeger” and all you think about is the Clearwater Festival or the sloop of the same name, you’re not thinking enough.
Sure, Seeger founded the Clearwater organization and launched the ship that helped lead to the Hudson River’s rebirth.
But there’s oh, so much more, to the folk singer who calls the Hudson Valley home. That’s what I came away with after watching this week’s American Masters on PBS that took a long look at Seeger’s life. I knew some of it. But when you sit down and let his life’s story just roll over you, its depth is amazing. 
There’s his involvement in the labor/union movement, weathering the 1959 1949Â riot outside Peekskill against Paul Robeson, being blacklisted after appearing before the House Un-American Activities Committee, founding the Newport Folk Festival, active in the Civil Rights movement – and the list just goes on.
If PBS replays the show or you ever find it on DVD, it’s worth a look. (Update: Looks like it’s on again on March 6, Channel 13, 8 p.m.)
It’s filled with historical clips and appearances by Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie and others. Guthrie, by the way, recalls folks poo-poohing Seeger’s idea for the Clearwater – saying building a sloop won’t attract anyone to the Hudson. The link above to the show has a collection of clips, etc.
This Rolling Stone interview is worth a read and LoHud’s sister paper, the Poughkeepsie Journal, has some videos.
As a last note, Seeger was born in Patterson in Putnam County.
More update: Check below in the comments for Frank’s Seeger recollection and then check out the photo below.
Here’s the caption we have from TJN photographer Mark Vergari: The sixth grade chorus under the direction of Frank Squillante from the Ardsley Middle School, join Pete Seeger and his grandson Tao Rodriguez Seeger, as they sing a brand new song called “Take it from Dr. King” during the Clearwater Festival Saturday, June 15, 2002, at Croton Point Park.
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on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 1:42 pm by Mike Risinit.
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Journal News staff writer Greg Clary writes Earth Watch, reporting on environmental issues in the lower Hudson region. Clary has been a reporter, editor and columnist at the Journal News since 1988 and has covered police and courts, transportation, municipal government, development and the environment in the Lower Hudson Valley, among other topics. 
Laura Incalcaterra covers the environment, open space and zoning and planning issues for The Journal News. A Boston College graduate, Laura grew up in Rockland, attended East Ramapo schools and has worked for The Journal News since 1993. Laura has written features and covered North Rockland, crime, government and a host of other issues.
Mike Risinit covers Patterson and Kent in Putnam County, as well as environmental topics touching on the Hudson River and the Great Swamp. Risinit has been a reporter at The Journal News since 1998.
I had a personal experience with Pete that I’ll never forget. (And I’m sure many, many others have had similar experiences as well!) Being a school music teacher, a friend of mine who knew Pete personally gave him my phone number when asked if she knew any local teachers who’d be willing to teach a new song of his to students. That evening I received a call from none other than Pete Seeger himself. Not only did we chat very informally, me about who I was, and him about his new song, but I listened in rapt attention as he sung the entire tune for me over the line, detailing specific dynamic changes, lyric choices and various rhythmic devices specific to his idea. The song is “Take It From Dr. King,” and after we learned it, not only did Pete visit my school to rehearse with my students, but he invited us to come on stage with him at the Clearwater to sing it with him as well!
And so we did, and so the experience is one I’ll never forget. I now have an autographed manuscript of the tune which I’ll always keep, and a personal autograph complete with the banjo icon scrawled across the face my guitar!
Thanks, Pete!
That’s a neat story, Frank. When was that? And where were/are you teaching?
I taught, and still teach, at the Ardsley Middle School.
Frank – Check out the photo I found in the paper’s archives.
GREAT! Thanks Mike! I actually have that photo and another one or two. I met Mark Vergari that day as he is a friend of my brother, Joseph Squillante. Joe’s fairly well-known Hudson River Photographer who lives upriver. He and his wife Carol Capobianco had a booth not far from the stage that day.
Thanks!
You left out “apologist for Stalin” and “proud communist” from his list of accomplishments.