Pete Seeger's music was an integral part of my folk singer/songwriter education. I went to 4H summer camp in the early 70's in Moodus CT, where we gathered around a campfire singing to his music. I remember learning Little Boxes (written by Malvina Reynolds) made famous by Pete. And thanks to the internet, I just learned it's the theme song to Weeds (who knew- guess not me?! Shows you how TV illiterate that I am!

In the midst of the early 70's with the Vietnam war and racial divides, his music, his art, his humble presence always pushed me to think instead of react. He taught me through his music the power of song, to sing out, sing loud and most of all sing together.

He lived into his 90's and that's a lovely long life.

1/27/14

Pete Seeger is gone
into the bitter cold air
his banjo silent
on a winter January day
From his music I joined the choir of the times
Sang of the earth
and caring for others, not just the righteous ones
but careful and concerned
for missing chances we humans forget to take
to chart a different course
he put the boat in the water
taught us to sail
without any power over
what prevailing winds, currents, eddys
would take us
Onward into his nineties
no ego
Sing out he cajoled
Sing Loud
The true power of song
within every next line a belonging
Call and answer praise
A voice that multiplies
is a Gorgeous sound

Richie Havens dead of a heart attack at 72. His heart gave out after 72 years of heart and soul and glorious rhythmic music.

If I had to pick one artist that completely inspired me throughout my musical life I would say Richie Havens. Reading his obit today, "I'm not in show business" he said " I'm in the communications business." Well he taught me that.

My early days of learning the guitar at age 12 Richie Havens album Alarm Clock woke me up and wound my inner curiosities about civil rights, the environment and essentially the power of song. I remember listening to WHCN radio out of Hartford, CT and getting up my nerve to call and request a Havens song. Hard to believe, but I actually never got a chance to see him live and up close until I lived in Paris in the '90's. He played in a tiny club, telling amazing stories and playing the hell out of his guitar. It was a rare moment of American pride to claim this man and his music as my heritage.

He showed that a cover song was not something to apologize for but to command and make your own: His versions of Here Come's the Sun, Woodstock, All Along The Watchtower, are legendary.

Sure there were others that inspired me to become a lifelong musician, social activist: Mitchell, Dylan, Baez too, but it was Haven's voice, his amazing right-hand strumming that had me mesmerized. I never embraced his open tuning style, but that right hand craft work taught me that as a soloist, it's the drums and even a punchy horn section; it's the rhythmic patterns that hold a song together.

Richie Havens will be missed. Today I sing in Union Square from 3-6pm above the N/R platforms. A fitting place to sing out and dedicate my performance to the man, the musical guru who inspired me.

He sang "Freedom, freedom" in that low rich vibrational soulful lure. Freedom indeed.