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Arts & Culture

Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Celebration From Madison Square Garden

Pete Seeger (center) celebrates his 90th birthday surrounded by friends.
Joseph Sinnott
Pete Seeger (center) celebrates his 90th birthday surrounded by friends.

Airs Friday, August 7 at 9:30 p.m. on KPBS TV

Watch Video Clips from the Concert Online Now:

Preview watch now

Dave Matthews Performs Rye Whiskey watch now

Seeger and Friends Perform This Land Is Your Land watch now

Joan Baez Performs Where Have All the Flowers Gone watch now

The Happy Birthday Song watch now

We Shall Overcome watch now

With a career spanning more than half a century, legendary folk artist and political activist, Pete Seeger turned 90 in May of 2009. Born to a large family of musicians, young Peter first learned to play the ukulele, graduating to the five-string banjo in the mid-1930s, ultimately mastering the instrument and in the process, galvanizing the American folk music movement. A pioneer of protest music, Seeger's anti-Vietnam War songs, including the now famous Where Have All the Flowers Gone? and Turn, Turn, Turn, as well his interpretation of the Civil Rights anthem, We Shall Overcome, garnered mainstream attention in the 1960's, revitalizing the genre and paving the way for countless other activist musicians-including Bob Dylan-to achieve widespread acclaim.

Joining Seeger for a once-in-a-lifetime concert event in celebration of his milestone birthday at Madison Square Garden are Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Richie Havens, Emmylou Harris, Roger McGuinn, Ani DiFranco, Taj Mahal, Ben Harper, Peggy Seeger, Dave Matthews, and many others who perform songs inspired by his music and activism. View a photo gallery of the concert.

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