For Pete's Sake!

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stage in a concert titled "For Pete's Sake!" paying homage to the man who has been the face and voice of American folk music for well over a half century. In true Seeger tradition, we--Chris Buhalis, Kitty Donohoe, Gemini (my brother Laz and myself), Mustard's Retreat (David Tamulevich & Michael Hough), Dick Siegel, Paul Tinkerhess, and Matt Watroba--led the packed house in singing Seeger-penned classics like "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" "If I Had a Hammer," and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine," as well as some of the countless traditional and contemporary, American and international folk songs from Seeger's enormous song bag. In our introductions to the songs, we told stories of Seeger's long, eventful, and influential life and of his impact on our own music.

A few highlights; first, please forgive a dad's pride. In a very clear case of the apple not falling far from the tree, my daughter took the night off from working on her eighth-grade project, "Protest Songs of the Sixties," and sang "There's a Hole in the Bucket" with me. She delivered the eye-rolling scolding that Henry gets from Liza with teenaged perfection. This year, when my brother and I take our turns leading songs, she'll join us, forming what may look like a multigenerational Peter, Paul, and Mary.