Explore the Audiobook: Disk 1 Disk 2
Sabina Torosjan on violin
1. Introduction
Jeff Haynes (spoken word, percussion)
2. Covered Wagon – Classical guitar sets the mood and paints the backdrop as Pete tells the adventurous story of how his father and mother built a covered wagon in the 1920s to pull behind their Model T-Ford and drive into the southern countryside to share Classical music with the people of the region.
Music written by Terry Champlin (My Mind Was a Mirror, Answering Emma). Pete Seeger (spoken word), Terry Champlin (guitar), Helen Avakian (guitar, vocals), Sabina Torosjan (violin), Vilian Ivantchev (guitar), Jeff Haynes (percussion).
Jeff and Dave Richards at the studio
3. Sailing Up My Dirty Stream – American Folk music and lyrics sets the stage as Pete talks about his beloved, yet polluted Hudson River and how it will take all of us to keep it clean.
Music written by Jane Kelly Williams (Find My Hope). Pete Seeger (spoken word), Jane Kelly Williams (guitar, vocals), Dave Richards (bass), C. Lanzbom (guitar), Matt Turk (mandolin).
Samite, Pete, and Jeff in the studio
4. Talking Drum – Disk 1 Track 04: Talking Drum – African music sets the stage as Pete describes his travels around the world and the complex communication that takes place in a small African village using the talking drum.
Music written by Samite Mulondo (Springs by the Old Tree). Pete Seeger (spoken word), Samite Mulondo (mbira), Tony Cedras (guitar), Jeff Haynes (percussion).
C. Lanzbom on guitar
5. To Know Good Will – American Folk music and lyrics accompany Pete as he recites a story about Lee Hays and Hays’ moving and thought-provoking poem, “To Know Good Will.”
Music written by Nicole Paradiso (The Fall). Poems by Lee Hays (In Dead Earnest, To Know Good Will). Pete Seeger (spoken word), Nicole Paradiso (vocals, guitar), Dave Eggar (cello), C. Lanzbom (guitar), Jeff Haynes (obsidian chimes).
Sean Harkness. Photo by Taka
6. Toshi – Disk 1 Track 06: Toshi – Soothing New Age acoustic guitar accompanies Pete as he shares stories about the near century-spanning love of his life, Toshi his wife, and her equally remarkable father.
Music written by Sean Harkness (Toshi). Pete Seeger (spoken word), Sean Harkness (guitar).
Dar Williams in the studio
7. Storm King – Dar William’s lyrics, celebrating Pete Seeger, are set to the Caribbean sounds of the mbira and kalimba and accompany Pete as he tells of his neighboring and beloved mountain, Storm King.
Music written by Jeff Haynes and C. Lanzbom. Lyrics by Dar Williams. Pete Seeger (spoken word), Dar Williams (vocals), Jeff Haynes (steel pan, mbiras, percussion), Doug Weiss (bass), C. Lanzbom (guitar), Chuck Palmer (timbales).
Dave Eggar on cello
8. Jacob’s Vision – The inimitable Ralph Stanley sings as he did on Pete Seeger’s public television show, Rainbow Quest, in 1966. A lonely cello accompanies as Pete tells the inspiring story of how, in the midst of being blacklisted, he launched that television show.
Music based on an old hymn called “Jacob’s Vision.” Pete Seeger (spoken word), Ralph Stanley (vocals), Dave Eggar (cello).
9. Peace Pilgrim – Pete tells the amazing story of pacifist Mildred Lisette Norman and her 28-year dedication to peace as she walked across the United States and lectured. Pete’s narration is accompanied by a New Age melody with lyrics written in Mildred’s honor.
Music written by Ana Hernández (Peace Walker).Pete Seeger (spoken word), Ana Hernández (vocals, tung drum), Pat Lamanna (vocals), Ivan Bodley (bass), Jeff Haynes (percussion).
Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin in the studio
10. Libba Cotten – New age music infused with spoken word accompanies Pete’s narration as he tells the story of how his stepmother was reunited with her lost little girl when an African American woman found her in the department store where she was shopping. The Seeger family hired Libba Cotten as their housekeeper, but the roles change when the children discovered Libba’s guitar-playing genius and they offered to take on the chore of doing dishes in exchange for Libba’s tunes.
Music written by Heidi Breyer (American Gothic). Pete Seeger (spoken word), Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin (spoken word), Heidi Breyer (piano), Jeff Oster (trumpet), Joel Henry (banjo), Eugene Friesen (cello).
11. Fannie Lou Hamer – New Age/jazz underscores Pete’s story about this profoundly brave and influential woman who risked her life and ultimately lost it in the course of her passionate, uncompromising, and triumphant fight for equality.
Music written by Timothy Hill (The Clearing). Pete Seeger (spoken word), C. Lanzbom (guitar), Timothy Hill (guitar), Valerie Haynes (vocals), Rob Scheps (saxophone), Ivan Bodley (bass).
Dean Bowman in the studio
12. Big Muddy – Disk 1 Track 12: Big Muddy – Back porch swamp blues music stomps you into the Mekong River as Pete tells the controversial story of how the airing of this song, protesting the war in Vietnam, contributed to the Smothers Brothers’ show being cancelled.
Music written by Paul Cebar (Waist Deep). Pete Seeger (spoken word), Paul Cebar (guitar), Charlie Burnham (vocals), Dean Bowman (vocals), Jeff Haynes (percussion).
Pete playing his banjo. Photo by Paragon Light
13. Story of the Banjo A story, a song, and a banjo lesson—all in one! Pete tells us some of his best banjo stories, plays several amazing banjo songs, and even teaches us about the banjo—and how to play it—in this truly priceless piece.
Music based on the old folk song “The Devil and the Farmer’s Wife”, “Skip to my Lou,” and “Keep Those Banjos Ringing.” Pete Seeger (spoken word, banjo).