Pete Seeger – Page 3 – The Music's Over

Died On This Date (January 30, 1982) Lightnin’ Hopkins / Blues Icon

themusicsover January 30, 2010 0 Comments

Sam “Lightnin'” Hopkins
March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982

Meeting Blind Lemon Jefferson at the age of eight was likely the moment that sent Lightnin’ Hopkins down the blues highway. But it wasn’t until 1946 that Hopkins got his break when he was convinced by Aladdin Records to go to Los Angeles to record with pianist Wilson Smith. It was the beginning of one of the most prolific runs in music history, as Hopkins made as many as 1000 recordings over the course of his career, believed to be the most of any bluesman. During the ’60s, Hopkins benefited from the blues and folk revival that lead to him playing alongside Pete Seeger and Joan Baez at Carnegie Hall. Lightnin’ Hopkins died of cancer on January 30, 1982. He was 69 years old.

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Blues Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (December 6, 1949) Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter

themusicsover December 6, 2009 0 Comments

Lead Belly (Born Huddie Ledbetter)
January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949

Huddie Ledbetter, or as he was better known, Leadbelly (which he spelled, Lead Belly) was a Louisiana-born folk and blues singer, songwriter and musician whose catalog of songs included many that have since become folk and blues standards. That list includes, “Cotton Fields,” “Goodnight Irene,” and “Midnight Special.” Those and others have been recorded by such divers artists as of the Weavers, the Beach Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Johnny Cash, the White Stripes, Ministry and Nirvana. From an early age, Lead Belly honed his skills by absorbing the field songs he heard as he traveled the southern states for work. He also had first hand experience learning prison hollers by spending two separate terms incarcerated, once for murder, and the second, for attempted murder. Each time he was pardoned by the governor by literally singing his way to freedom. While in Angola Prison for his second crime, he was recorded by musicologists, John Lomax and Alan Lomax, who helped facilitate his pardon. Lead Belly then moved to New York where the Lomax’s helped him land a contract with Columbia Records. Although he found plenty of press as the “singing convict,” his records never sold much initially. He did, however find an audience in Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie who helped introduce his music to new audiences during their careers. Lead Belly continued to struggle financially, and in 1939, he found himself in jail for stabbing a man during a fight. Alan Lomax again helped him by raising money for his defense. He ended staying in jail for a couple of more years. By the middle of the ’40s, he found himself immersed in New York’s blossoming folk scene, playing with the likes of Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry. In 1949, Lead Belly, 61, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease of which he died on December 6, 1949.

What You Should Own

leadbelly-music — Click to find at amazon.com

Folk Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (November 27, 2009) Bess Lomax Hawes / Folk Musician & Folklorist

themusicsover November 27, 2009 0 Comments

Bess Lomax Hawes
January 21, 1921 – November 27, 2009

Bess Lomax Hawes was a folk musician, educator and folklorist. As the daughter and sister of noted folk historians, John A. Lomax and Alan Lomax, Hawes was never far from the American folk music that she would eventually build her life around. After graduating from college during the ’40s, Dawes moved to New York City where she immersed herself in the thriving folk scene. She became a guitarist and singer for the politically charged Almanac Singers, a folk group that included Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and future husband, Butch Hawes. During WWII, Hawes worked as a radio programmer for the United States Office of War Information. During the ’50s, she moved to the Los Angeles area where she continued to play local clubs and began teaching at a college that would later become California State University, Northridge. In later years, Hawes worked for the Smithsonian Institute and the National Endowment for the Arts. As a songwriter, her most famous song was 1948’s “M.T.A.,” co-written with Jacqueline Steiner. It later became a hit for the Kingston Trio. Bess Lomax Hawes was 88 when she died following a stroke on November 27, 2009.

Folk Musician Singer

Died On This Date (Otober 25, 2009) Banjo Fred Starner / The Hobo Minstrel

themusicsover October 25, 2009 0 Comments

George “Banjo Fred” Starner
August 6, 1937 – October 25, 2009

Banjo Fred Starner was a banjoist and folk singer who helped document the hobo culture of America. Taking a cue from Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, Starner not only set out to be a voice of the unheard, but also helped raise money for various humanitarian causes along the way. Starner taught himself to play the guitar and banjo while in college during the ’50s and was soon playing the folk festival circuit. He later became a college professor, and in 1969, found himself performing and working as a deck hand on the Clearwater, a boat launched by Seeger in New York’s Hudson River to educate people about the environment. By the late ’80s, Starner was living in Los Angeles where he continued to teach, write songs, and perform. It was while in Southern California that he began putting more focus on the hobo culture in both his songs, and his studies. From time to time he even performed at modern hobo encampments and for events sponsored by the American Hobo Association. Starner passed away of pneumonia and sarcoidosis in a medical facility at the age of 72.

Record Label

Died On This Date (October 19, 1986) Moe Asch / Founder of Folkways Records

themusicsover October 19, 2009 0 Comments

Moses “Moe” Asch
December 2, 1905 – October 19, 1986

Photo by Diana Davies

Moe Asch was a Poland born, New York City raised musicologist who founded the legendary Folkways label in 1948. The label specialized in folk and is considered an invaluable asset to American culture. The label itself, was a major influence on the development of folk musicians for years to come. Folkways released over 2100 recordings during Asch’s time. They included new releases by the likes of Lead Belly, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie was well as previously unreleased discoveries from the ’20s and ’30s. Moe Asch died of natural causes at the age of 81. Following his death, the Smithsonian Institution acquired the Folkways catalog.

Died On This Date (January 30, 1982) Lightnin’ Hopkins / Blues Icon

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (December 6, 1949) Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (November 27, 2009) Bess Lomax Hawes / Folk Musician & Folklorist

Died On This Date (Otober 25, 2009) Banjo Fred Starner / The Hobo Minstrel

Died On This Date (October 19, 1986) Moe Asch / Founder of Folkways Records

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