State joins Seeger's 86th birthday tribute

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

Come wish singer/songwriter Pete Seeger happy birthday as he turns 86 today and the University of Hawai'i's Manoa campus joins with other groups across the state and the nation to honor the songwriter, singer and political activist who embedded such folk songs as "If I Had a Hammer," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone," and "This Land is Your Land," into the American consciousness in the 1960s.

Seeger

Seegerfest today in Hawai'i Honolulu At UH-Manoa: Noon concert at the Campus Center. Tributes on Hawaii Public Radio (88.1 FM) 8:30 a.m.- noon and Perry & Price Show (590 AM, 92.3 FM) 5-10 a.m. Big Island At UH-Hilo: Noon-2 p.m. at Mo'okina Library Lanai or the Campus Center Plaza; 5-6 p.m. at the Campus Center Plaza. In Captain Cook: Community sing-along, 7:30 p.m. at the home of Doug Hackett and Trish Regan, 82-955 Aka Ala St. Maui At Maui Community College: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Pa'ina Building. Mana'o Radio (91.5 FM on Maui and online at manaoradio.com). On the Web: www.seegerfest.com.

"We just kind of sailed it out there," King said. "What we basically suggested was that there be concerts with three conditions: they be free, open to the public and at some point everybody join together to sing 'Happy Birthday.' We just said it would be great if there could be this outpouring throughout the country of appreciation and affection."

She was moved to do it because "I've enjoyed his singing for decades and because of the kind of human being he is."

First she sent an e-mail to a friend, professor Rob Rosenthal at Wesleyan University on the East Coast with her suggestions, and he sent them out to his e-mail list. About the same time she called other friends around the country, including former UH professor Ed Beechert in Washington state.

Soon she learned that others were making contacts of their own. Before long, several new concerts had been planned as tributes, and others already in the works were dedicated to Seeger. Another King friend, Larry Geller, put together the seegerfest.com Web site to keep track of them.

Writer friend Tomi Knaefler made calls to senior residences and retirement communities to make sure they knew about the UH concert and were invited.

King said she can't take credit for all the tributes, noting that a couple were already planned, including one in Glenside, Pa., where Seeger will be the guest of honor.

Seeger, who started the singing group the Weavers in the 1940s, learned songwriting from Woody Guthrie and was blacklisted from TV in the 1950s for his liberal political leanings.

King still marvels at Seeger.

"His banjo has this slogan on the side: 'This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender.' I think he's really lived that. Whether it's civil rights or the environment or peace or labor, he's just been right there."

Reach Beverly Creamer at 525-8013 or bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.