Fred Hellerman, last surviving member of the Weavers

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sacbee ... =181277866

Fred Hellerman, folk singer and last surviving member of The Weavers, died Thursday, September 1, 2016, at his home in Connecticut, according to multiple news sources. He was 89. Hellerman had long been in declining health, his son, Caleb, told The Connecticut Post.

The Weavers, consisting of Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Hellerman, were leaders of an American folk music revival in the mid-20th century. Formed in 1948 and based in New York City, they recorded popular versions songs such as “Goodnight, Irene,” “On Top of Old Smokey,” “Kisses Sweeter than Wine,” and “Rock Island Line.” Their music was closely tied to their political beliefs. After Seeger and Hays were identified as Communist Party members the group were blacklisted and denied radio airplay and their recording contract terminated. They disbanded temporarily in 1952, but reunited to play a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall in 1955. A recording of this concert was released as the album, “The Weavers at Carnegie Hall” in 1957. They would reunite periodically until Hays’ death in 1981.

Hellerman was born in Brooklyn on May 13, 1927. He was a singer, guitarist and songwriter. After The Weavers disbanded he was active working with other musicians. He played guitar on Joan Baez’s debut album in 1960, and produced Arlo Guthrie’s debut album, “Alice’s Restaurant,” in 1967. The success of that album enabled Hellerman to buy the house he died in, according to his son.

Hellerman is survived by his wife, Susan Lardner, his sons, Caleb and Simeon, and three grandchildren.

[Rob Segal]

Breaks my heart; he and the Weavers were seminal for me. I still love them.

[Morgan Scoggins]

I have a lot of fond memories of the Weavers. I have to put all of the politics aside. The first amendment of the U S Constitution allows for any and all peaceful
groups to exist. They were not given their fair rights and I am sure they suffered economically because of that.
Thanks to PBS, I sometimes got to see some wonderful footage of their concerts, particularly the reunion concert at Carnegie Hall, I guess in the mid 60's.
I sure do sometimes miss the folk music of the 1960's with Joan Baez, Peter Paul and Mary and many others. The Weavers were a group the paved the way for a lot of folk artists in that era.

[RMckee]

Sad. Yet another hero gone. I have several albums of the Weavers and I watch the reunion concert video occasionally. Many years ago I had a professor, who was VERY conservative, bemoaning the fact that there seemed to be a dearth of folks left who care. I believe anyone would have to concur, the Weavers cared. Whether you agreed with their beliefs and agenda or not, they were passionate and cared.

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

I saw the Weavers 3 times, including the 1960 concert that was recorded and released as “The Weavers At Carnegie Hall Volume 2.”

One of the things that made them special was that they did not have a lead singer. Each of the singers sang the lead on different songs, but more than that, the lead vocals often shifted between them from verse to verse within a song. On top of that, they sang and played with a depth of musicianship rarely seen in many vocal groups.

But most of all, when their live albums, particularly the original “The Weavers At Carnegie Hall” from their 1955 Christmas Eve concert and the sadly out of print “The Weavers On Tour” which is the second half of the same concert, are JOYFULL. Perhaps due to the circumstances surrounding the concert, the group was overjoyed during the concert and sang with so much emotion that you can’t help getting goose-bumps when you listen.

To those of you who are not familiar with these recordings, I suggest that you buy the …at Carnegie Hall CD,

https://www.amazon.com/Weavers-At-Carne ... he+weavers

and, if you can find a copy you should also get … On Tour.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i ... ular%2C242