Pete Seeger

Pete Seeger (1919–2014) was an American folk singer, songwriter, and social activist who helped shape the 20th-century folk revival. Born in New York City, he learned banjo early and became known for clear, communal singing and audience participation. In the 1940s he co-founded the Almanac Singers and later joined The Weavers, whose recordings brought folk music to a wide public. Seeger wrote or popularized songs that became staples of protest and civic life, including “If I Had a Hammer,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” and his adaptation of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” He remained active in environmental and peace causes for decades.