14 DAY TRIAL // Legendary folk singer Pete Seeger has passed away on Monday night, January 27, at the age of 94. The news is confirmed by Seeger's grandson, Kitama Cahill Jackson.
Seeger was most famous for hits such as “This Land Is Your Land” and “We Shall Overcome,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” and “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season).” But he was also made famous by something other than his music.
Seeger used his music as a means of promoting his left-wing views, which didn't always agree with the men in power. He made a habit out of stepping on some toes, but in doing this, he made popular the idea that music could also be used to convey a deeper message than that of trivial love.
His songs would later go on to influence the musical style of other important artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Dave Matthews, Rufus Wainwright an John Mellencamp.
Seeger was introduced early to music, coming from a musical family. His father was a musicologist and his mother a violinist. He started playing the ukulele during boarding school and was later introduced to the five string banjo during his teen years.
His musical influence was acknowledged when he was invited to perform “This Land Is Our Land” at president's Obama inaugural concert together with Bruce Springsteen.
According to a statement by grandson, the singer died of natural causes at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Apparently, he had undergone heart surgery in December to replace a valve, but the operation went well and doctors don't think it was related to his demise.
Seeger has been admitted into hospital six days before his death and he was left unable to speak in the last three days of his stint. According to Variety, he is survived by his son, Daniel, two daughters Mika and Tinya, six grandchildren and a great-grandson.