Remembering Pete Seeger

“The artists.” Without a doubt, that response is the one I hear most often when I ask what people love most about the Village’s history. And when it comes to the artists of Greenwich Village, you can’t talk about them together without thinking of the iconic 1960s folk scene and the great Pete Seeger.
Born almost 100 years ago in 1919, Seeger died yesterday at the age of 94 here in Manhattan. As a singer/songwriter who influenced a generation of legendary musicians including Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary, Seeger was instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war protests, among many other key political issues.

Like so many 20th century artists, he found a voice in the cafes and bars of the Village. He could be found performing at The Bitter End, the Village Gate, and the Gaslight Cafe, and many other locations in and around MacDougal Street. He was an advocate for peace, and his words continue to have an impact throughout the world.
You can learn more about the Village folk scene and the places where Seeger and his contemporaries performed by looking through the South Village Historic District Designation Report.
Read these other Off the Grid articles that mention Pete Seeger in the Village:
- His influence on Peter, Paul and Mary
- His connection to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter
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