Almanac Singers/The Weavers

These two groups, both based in New York and consisting of overlapping personnel, spanned the forties and fifties. In addition to a similar sound and philosophy, the groups shared a goal of popularizing folk songs and focusing attention on labor, peace and justice issues. Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger were among the original Almanac Singers. Pete went on to found the Weavers with Fred Hellerman, Lee Hays (with whom he wrote "If I Had A Hammer," and Ronnie Gilbert. Gilbert went on to sing with Holly Near in a move that helped the old music span a new generation. Seeger went on to found the Clearwater Hudson River Revival festival and environmental clean-up project.

Immortal Songs

• "Irene Goodnight" (Leadbelly)
• "If I Had A Hammer"
• "Rock Island Line" (Leadbelly)
• "Song #4"

Essential Discs

• Live at Carnegie Hall. (Label). (Buy it online)
• Disc #2. (Label). (Buy it online)

Heirs

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• Kingston Trio
• The Limelighters
  
• Brothers Four
• Peter, Paul & Mary

Sites and Articles to Check Out

• The Sixties, Part I: The Folk Revival
• The Great Folk Scare

Hugh Blumenfeld
Folk Music Guide
folkmusic.guide@

see Folk Music 101 article: Major American Artists

Hugh Blumenfeld, Editor
hugh@balladtree.com

 

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