David Amram Remembers His Friend Pete Seeger

“I’d like to be remembered as the sower of seeds. That’s the greatest parable in the Bible as far as I’m concerned. Some seeds fall in the pathway and get stomped on and don’t grow, but some fall on the ground and multiply a thousand fold.  So, like most teachers, I’m just a sower of seeds.”-Pete Seeger

On Monday, 27 January 2014, America lost one of its most iconic artists and activists: Pete Seeger. Seeger, surrounded by his family and friends, passed away peacefully in New York’s Presbyterian Hospital at 94 years young. His life had truly been the stuff of legends.

Of the many artists that I’ve had the pleasure to interview and actually get to know, Pete Seeger remains special to me: gentle, modest, humanistic and a gentleman. If I could sum him up in only one word, then that is precisely the word I would choose: gentleman. Always a gentleman.

Known as America’s “Renaissance Man of Music” David Amram became a close friend and deep admirer of Pete Seeger, whose energy never ceased to amaze him. In Seeger’s final years, he and Amram became especially close; sharing the stage at numerous music festivals-such as last year’s Farm Aid-and other events across America. In their respective eighties and nineties, their dynamic energy astounded fellow performers who were less than half their ages…over and over again.

Speaking with David Amram this Tuesday morning, here is what he had to say about his friend, Pete Seeger:

It is not often that many 83 year olds like myself have the chance to have someone older than themselves to look up to and to spend time with , as well to as collaborate with musically. Now I won’t have a chance to play with Pete Seeger any more, but I will still continue to look up to him every day of my life.

I first heard Pete 65 years ago when my mother took me to a Henry Wallace rally in 1948 when I was about to turn 18.All the hundreds of times I have played with him over the years since then have always been a joy as well as an honor.

Ever since he chose his path, he has stayed on it and walked the walk he talked and inspired generations to raise our voices in song, to always think of others, to respect ourselves and all who cross our paths and to share whatever blessings we have with others.

He shared his incredible gifts as an artist with anybody and everybody and set an example to all musicians of what our job is all about…to make a contribution while we are here, to honor young people and to show love and exercise responsibility to our blessed planet earth.

I was fortunate enough to be able to say goodbye to him during the last two hours of his life. As Guy Davis, Pat Humphries and I played some music for him and his family in his hospital room, we could feel his spirit fill our hearts with that endless energy he shared with the world for 94 years.

Now he is gone. We all have to honor his memory, his music and his ideals of bringing the world together the way he brought people together with the power of song.

We must all think of his beautiful family and send them a prayer and offer love in anyway that we can. His voice will remain in the hearts of the millions who have heard him.

It was a blessing to know him.-David Amram

Below: Pete Seeger “clowning around” with his friend David Amram in Beacon, New York in 2013. Photo by Elliot Stephen Cohen. Copyright 2014.
Photo: It is not often that many 83 year olds like myself have the chance to have someone older than themselves to look up to and to spend time with , as well to as collaborate with musically. Now I  won't have a chance to play with Pete Seeger any more but i will still continue to look up to him every day of my life..</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>I first heard Pete 65 years ago when my mother took me to a Henry Wallace rally in 1948 when I was about to turn 18.</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>All the hundreds of times I have played with him over the years since then have always been a joy as well as an honor,</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>Ever since he chose his path, he has stayed on it and walked the walk he talked and inspired generations to raise our voices in song, to always think of others, to respect ourselves and all who cross our paths and to share whatever blessings we have with others.</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>He shared his incredible gifts as an artist with anybody and everybody and set an example to all musicians of what our job is all about...to make a contribution while we are here, to honor young people and to show love and exercise responsibility to our blessed planet earth.</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>I was fortunate enough to be able to say goodbye to him during the  last two hours of his life.  As Guy Davis, Pat Humphries and I played some music for him and his family in his hospital room, we could feel his spirit fill our hearts with that endless energy he shared with the world for 94 years.</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>Now he is gone. We all have to honor his memory, his music and his ideals of bringing the world together the way he brought people together with the power of song.</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>We must all think of his beautiful family and send them a prayer and offer love in anyway that we can.</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>His voice will remain in the hearts of the millions who have heard him.</p><br /><br /><br /><br />
<p>It was a blessing to know him.
Shirley Pena

About Shirley Pena

A native of Southern California, Shirley Peña began her career as a music journalist almost twenty years ago, writing for her websites "Stars In My Eyes: the Girlhowdy Website" and "La Raza Rock!" and progressed to creating various fan sites on Yahoo, including the first for New Zealand singer/songwriter Tim Finn. From there, she became a free agent, arranging online interviews for Yahoo fan clubs with various music artists (Andy White, John Crawford, Debora Iyall, John Easdale, etc.). She also lent her support in creating and moderating a number of Yahoo fan clubs for various music artists from the 1990s-today. As a music journalist, Shirley Peña has contributed to a number of magazines (both hard copy and online), among them: Goldmine, American Songwriter, Classic Drummer Magazine and UK-based Keyboard Player (where she was a principal journalist). A self-confessed "fanatic" of 1960s "British Invasion" bands, Classic Rock and nostalgic "Old Hollywood ", she also keeps her finger on the pulse of current trends in music, with a keen eye for up and coming artists of special merit. Shirley Peña loves Los Angeles, and is thrilled to join the writing staff of The Los Angeles Beat!
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