News and notes – Pete Seeger, Utah Phillips, Willie P. Bennet, Chris Smither and more
I want to remind you that the broadcast premiere of “Pete Seeger: The Power of Song” will be next Wednesday, February 27 on the PBS series “American Masters” at 9pm ET. Click here for a preview.
Jim Brown did a superb job in capturing the essence of a true American icon in a 90 minute documentary. It took many years before Pete agreed to become the subject of such a project, but the era in which we live convinced Pete that the time was ripe, and hopefully many will gain insight into what freedom of speech and the power of an individual really means. As our freedoms are being denied, the story of Pete Seeger reminds of us why it is important to fight these injustices, and the film shows us exactly what makes a patriot.
I urge you to make plans to watch this important film. A DVD release will be happening this spring and I would hope the film is shown in schools. Pete’s story is a look at social change in the 20th and now the 21st century. Don’t miss it.
Utah Phillips continues to make progress and will hopefully be returning home soon. As we mentioned last week, Utah and his doctors decided against attempting a heart transplant and he is working on new medications to help him enjoy the remainder of his life. Utah is anxious to get home and work on his book. That is a another story that I don’t want to miss!
Be sure to check out the blog that Utah’s son Duncan has created – www.utahphillips.blogspot.com . Duncan has been sharing endearing stories and memories and giving everyone an honest update on what Utah and family are going though. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P
. Bennett passed away quite suddenly last Friday, Febuary 15. He died at his home in Peterborough, Ontario.
Willie had been touring with Fred Eaglesmith’s band last summer when he wasn’t feeling well and discovered that he suffered a heart attack.
For the last 30 years, Willie had been touring across Canada and the United States and grew a very devoted fan base, particularly in his home country. Willie gained critical attention in 1996 with the formation of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and he he continued to tour with Fred Eaglesmith’s band , the Flying Squirrels.
The music community will miss him, and we extend our condolences to his partner Linda and the Bennett family.
The Henry Reed Fund honors old-time fiddler Henry Reed The fund began in 1990 with a gift from fiddler Alan Jabbour, who is also a director of the American Folklife Center. Jabbour is an authority on Henry Reed, who was a Virginia fiddler born in 1884. Reed , who called his music “East Virginia” style, learned his fiddle tunes in the folk tradition – from family and friends rather than recorded sources. Alan visited with Reed in the mid-60s and recorded his performing. The recordings are now housed in the Library of Congress. Reed passed away in 1969 but in recent years interest in his music has been growing. There is an annual fiddle festival held in Glen Lynn Virginia –
http://www.gilesmountainstringband.com/henryreed.htmlInformation on the Henry Reed Fund and other awards from the American Folklife Center can be found at their website –
http://www.loc.gov/folklife/grants.html#reed .