Remembering Pete Seeger

A short PROMOTIONAL BLURB of the Remembering Pete Seeger concert can be found here. A FULL LENGTH PRESS RELEASE can be found here.

Spook’s New CD: “Pete, Woody & Me, Volume I – Keep the Flame Alive”
No. 3 CD – June/July 2016
on the International Folk Radio Charts
just behind Joan Baez and ahead of Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle
no. 2 and no. 3 songs (“Vote” & “Banks of Marble”)

Spook had the incredible honor of performing alongside Pete Seeger over 50 times in the last ten years of his life. In that time, he learned lot of his songs and the stories behind them. And he learned a lot about Pete and what he stood for.

The first time they met, Pete shared with him his vision that younger generations would carry on the tradition of using songs as a tool to build and
nurture community. This is how to make the world a better place. That vision resonated with Spook. So he paid close attention to every interaction they had after that. Every time they met in person or talked on the phone, Spook took notes. Every time they rehearsed or performed together Spook learned something new about what makes a good song and how to get everybody engaged in it. And Pete had a hand in the writing and rewriting of many of Spook’s own songs. For Spook, it felt like he was studying under a true master.

The “Remembering Pete Seeger” World Tour

When Pete passed in 2014, there was a wonderful series of tribute concerts in his honor. Spook joined the likes of Peter Yarrow, David Amram, Guy Davis and so many others to share the love we all felt for Pete. By 2015, the tributes ended. But Spook knew that Pete’s tradition needs to be kept alive. So he launched the “Remembering Pete Seeger” World Tour. The tour is two-fold – a “Remembering Pete Seeger” concert and a new CD titled “Pete Woody and Me, Volume I – Keep the Flame Alive.”

The concert (which can also take the form of a workshop, church service or keynote concert a.k.a lecture/concert), is being presented in concert halls, theaters, arts centers, libraries, festivals, summer concert series, churches and college classrooms all over the U.S. and beyond. Spook presents the program solo, with The Spook Handy Trio or with The Spook Handy Band .

“Spook Handy honors the spirit of Pete Seeger, so excellently, by sharing the music with everyone on stage and in the audience in the same way that Pete did. He makes music the star. That’s why Pete loved to play with him so often and why all of us who are still here also do.”

… David Amram – friend, world renown musician and recipient of the second annual Pete and Toshi Seeger Power of Song Award at Symphony Space in New York City.

 

***

CONCERT DESCRIPTION – CONCERT DESCRIPTION – “Pete taught me to always know the first song or two you are going play at a concert. After that, you should have a good feel for what the audience appreciates and you tailor the rest of your set to that. Still, each concert traces the chronology of Pete’s life; expresses the wisdom he collected over the years and embedded into his songs; and shares the values of community, environment, peace and justice. There are plenty of old classics, newer songs Pete wrote late in his life, old songs with new verses I have written; and my own songs written myself or revised under Pete’s tutelage. You’ll also hear some of the stories behind the songs as they were taught to me by Pete.”

THE SPOOK HANDY BAND/TRIO – When Spook brings along the band or trio everybody is in for an extra fun time. Perhaps you’ve seen Paul Prestopino on the PBS special staring Peter Paul and Mary. He’s the other Paul – the one who toured as their back-up musician for 15 years. He plays Mandolin, Dobro, Banjo, Harmonica and 12-String Guitar. Bob Harris was a member of fiddle legend Vassar Clements’ band for 15 years. Bob won the prestigious Guitar Player International’s “Ultimate Guitar Competition” in 1992 and recorded on and produced a Johnny Cash album. He joins us on acoustic guitar and harmonies. Ron Greenstein rounds out the sound with his upright bass. He also backs up folk icons Tom Paxton and The Chad Mitchell Trio when not on tour with the SHB.

***

“Thanks for an OUTSTANDING performance! Through your ‘Remembering Pete Seeger’ concert, Pete’s songs live on. You have picked up on his technique of getting the audience to join in superbly. I wish you the best in bringing the show on the road.”
..Dave Sherman – Folk Project, NJ
***

TOUR DESCRIPTION – Spook believes if this world is going to survive another 50 years, everybody needs to hear Pete’s music and message, young and old alike, all across the world. That’s why with the help of so many people around the U.S. and around the world, concert dates are being added all the time. The goal is to present the concert in all 50 U.S. states; all 10 Canadian provinces; as many other countries as possible: and all 21 counties of his home state, New Jersey.

{Click here to see the states, provinces, countries and NJ counties where the tour has been and where it is going.}

“Grand Slam!! – Spook gave a mesmerizing concert – He was at once witty in dialogue, charming in his humble and humorous delivery, and incandescent in the way his music shines a beautiful light on the heart, mind, and soul of the human condition. Truly one of our best concerts to date”
… Lyndon Harris – Tigg’s Pond Concert Series, Zirconia, NC

***

Spook’s New CD: “Pete, Woody & Me, Volume I – Keep the Flame Alive” is a collection of 12 songs that influenced Pete, that Pete wrote himself or that Spook wrote with Pete’s influence. Songs include: “Banks of Marble”, “Vote”, “Song Long, It’s Been Good to Know Ya”, “My Oklahoma Home Blowed Away”, “Hobo’s Lullaby”, “My Rainbow Race”, “Quite Early Morning”, “Where Have all the Flowers Gone?”, “Why I Love You”, “Lead Us Home to the Promised Land” “Ocean of Debt”, and “Keep the Flame Alive.”

Guest artists include David Amram, Freebo, Brother Sun, The Local 1000 Musicians Union, “The Oklahoma Room” and others. The CD is due out in early 2016.

WHY? – Every citizen of this planet needs to know about Pete. Pete was a one-of-a-kind citizen of the world who loved humanity and worked with others to respect, save and rehabilitate the environment. He is an important historical figure who embodied the ideals that are ascribed to the founding of the United States. He is also well known for his work in the civil rights movement, the folk revival and so many other arenas. And it is important that we who knew Pete learn, share, carry on and pass along his music, message and legacy to as many people as possible. Spook is passionate about being one of the many folk artists who will help make this happen.

“Listening to Spook was like listening to Pete 40 years ago. He can teach the importance of a good song and remind the audience that no matter what side you’re on – its really really good to get everyone into the middle feeling good and doing the right thing together! “

… Don & Mara, House Concert Hosts, Midland, Ontario

HELP BOOK THE TOUR – This tour couldn’t happen without the help of people who want to see it succeed. Do you have connections in your area? Want to host a house concert? Want to help organize a concert for your organization or event? Send Spook an email to spook@spookhandy.com. I’d love to talk.

Where the tour has been and where it is going

It’s hard to keep this info up to date, but here is where the tour has been:

COMING SOON:
18 month tour itinerary
Description of “Remembering Pete Seeger” workshops
Description of “Remembering Pete Seeger” keynote concert (a.k.a. lecture/concert for colleges and universities)
Description of the “Pete Seeger – The American Soul” church service
Videos – (I have a bunch but they need to be spliced, diced and uploaded)

READ MORE – Here are two articles I wrote:
What Pete Seeger’s Legacy Looks Like
Pete Seeger – The American Soul

MORE PICTURES – can be found at Spook’s  facebook page.

FOR HIGH RESOLUTION VERSIONS OF PICTURES Click on photo, then drag and drop onto your desktop.

PROMOTIONAL BLURB – For short paragraph describing this concert, click here.

Spook Handy & Pete Seeger Performing
“My Rainbow Race” at Williams Carlos Williams Center 2010