SING IT!

How did a humble, banjo-playing Harvard University dropout become one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century? This is the story of Pete Seeger—singer, songwriter, social activist, environmentalist—who filled his toolbox with songs and set out to repair whatever in the world was broken. His story, told here in his own voice, intertwines with a century of Amercan history: from the blacklisting of Seeger's band the Weavers in the '50s, to the rediscovery of folk music and protest in the '60s, to his ninetieth birthday party in Carnegie Hall in 2009. Readers will be surprised to discover how many familiar songs, people, and projects somehow connect back to this one individual. Through learning of his life of activism, readers will become links in the chain, inspired to reflect on their own power to make change.

MERYL DANZIGER was raised in a musical household where she was free to explore, experiment, and learn music on her own. She has created stories, song, and plays designed to carry on the legacies of influential musicians. It was one of those plays, written in honor of Pete's ninetieth birthday, which led to the creation of this book. A native New Yorker, Meryl lives in Manhattan and works as founder and director of Music House, a unique, highly individualized alternative to traditional music lessons.