Thoughts on Ronnie Gilbert
My perspective on Ronnie Gilbert is a little different than what you are going to hear from most people. That is because I know almost nothing about her life. All I know is the impact her group The Weavers had on American society – and this is from the perspective of someone who only learned of the existence of the Weavers in the past twelve years. My primary connection to the Weavers is through my friendship with and my playing alongside Pete Seeger, another member of the Weavers. In my book, Pete was perhaps the most important American Folk musician of the past 100 years. But Pete would be the first to say that he wouldn’t have had any success if not for so many others who traveled short or long lengths of highway with him. Among those who helped Pete accomplish so much was Ronnie Gilbert and The Weavers.
The Weavers put American folk music on the Billboard Charts and thus into the consciousness of American society. Three men and one woman. Ronnie’s distinctly different vocal range demanded creative harmony arrangements of so many songs. Ronnie sang melodies on songs like “Good Night Irene” that were totally unique. On songs like “When the Saints Come Marching In”, The Weavers modulated keys on the verses Ronnie sang to best express her incredible talent. Her presence as a female in the band wasn’t all she contributed. The Weavers were one of the first popular groups that used music as a tool for social change. They recorded songs like “The Hammer Song” (a.k.a. “If I Had a Hammer”) and “Banks of Marble” that spoke of both the ills of our culture and the tools we have to remedy them. And they did so in a fun, fresh, invigorating, uplifting, hopeful and largely socially acceptable manner – a model for so many future singers and songwriters of social conscience to follow.
Ronnie and so many others from her musical generation that have passed on will be missed. But if you look around you will see that her tradition, just as that of Pete’s, is being carried on by many – perhaps thousands – of younger musicians who have learned from her and The Weavers how to address important social issues in a way that can actually encourage people to make meaningful change.
