American Masters: Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song

Airs Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV

Folk music icon Pete Seeger plays the banjo and sings with Arlo Guthrie (back left) at the Woody Guthrie Tribute Concert at Severance Hall in Cleveland, September 1996.

Credit: Neal Preston/Corbis

Above: Folk music icon Pete Seeger plays the banjo and sings with Arlo Guthrie (back left) at the Woody Guthrie Tribute Concert at Severance Hall in Cleveland, September 1996.

Monday, June 21, 2010

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A black and white photo of Pete Seeger playing the banjo

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Credit: Terry Cryer/Corbis

Above: A black and white photo of Pete Seeger playing the banjo

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Above: Join or renew at the $75 level during our TV Membership Campaign and receive "The Essential Pete Seeger" CD. This gift also includes enrollment in the myKPBS Savers Club which features a directory of best-in-class offers from Entertainment Publications and a KPBS License Plate Frame (if you're a new member).

"Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song," the first authorized film, poetically documents Pete Seeger’s unique experience and contributions. The man who introduced America to its own folk heritage, he deeply believes in the power of song and is convinced that individuals can make a difference.

He made a whole generation passionate about playing the guitar and picking the banjo, and got them singing together and using music as a force for social change.

Largely misunderstood by his critics, including the U.S. government, for his views on peace, civil rights and ecology, Seeger went from the top of the hit parade to the top of the blacklist — banned from commercial television for more than 17 years.

His inspiring, but not always easy, story is told by everyone from Bob Dylan to the Dixie Chicks and through a remarkable historical archive — a history that Seeger himself, now almost 90 years old, helped create.

Watch exclusive clips and interviews on the AMERICAN MASTERS website. AMERICAN MASTERS is on Facebook.

Video

Video Excerpt: Pete Seeger: The Power Of Song

Above: Pete Seeger helped introduce America to its own musical heritage, devoting his life to using the power of sing as a force for social change. Standing strong for deeply-held beliefs, Seeger went from the top of the pop charts to the top of the blacklist and was banned from American commercial television for more than 17 years. This determined singer/songwriter made his voice heard and encouraged the people of the world to sing out along with him. Now almost 90, Seeger continues to invigorate and inspire the musicians who help tell his story- including Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, Natalie Maines, Tom Paxton, Arlo Guthrie, and others.

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