The Weavers

The Weavers were an American folk group from New York, which was founded in 1948, inter alia, by Pete Seeger. They sang traditional folk songs from around the world, as well as blues, gospel and work songs and children's songs. To her most famous songs were Wimoweh, a song from South Africa, and Goodnight Irene (written by Leadbelly ). At the height of their popularity, they sold millions of records.

History

The band was founded in the tradition and succession of The Almanac Singers in November 1948 by Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Fred Hellermann and Ronnie Gilbert in Greenwich Village, New York.

In 1950, the group signed a contract with Decca and played in a row with the piece Goodnight Irene by Leadbelly a hit one that stood over thirteen weeks at number one in the U.S. charts and sold two million times. Other chart positions reached the group with the book written by Woody Guthrie song So Long, It's Been Good to Know You and On Top of Old Smokey. Thus were the Weavers, the first folk band, who managed to reach a wide audience on insider circles.

The middle of 1950 was offered to them due to their great popularity own TV show, but this was prevented by officials. As the members of the Communist Party were very close and members were, they were placed in the anti-communist climate of the McCarthy - era blacklisted, what a performance ban was tantamount, as organizer or the like. themselves at risk. So the band broke up in 1952.

In 1955 Harold Leventhal, the Weavers for a legendary Christmas concert at New York's Carnegie Hall back together.

1958 Pete Seeger left the group. This was followed by new appointments with Bernie Krause, Erik Darling and Frank Hamilton. Along with these musicians, the Group announced in its 1963 original cast one last concert at Carnegie Hall, in order to subsequently resolve definitively. They came in the following years, every now and then to Reunions, most recently in 1980 in the original cast at Carnegie Hall. A year later, Lee Hays died. This performance was recorded in the written documentation from him Was not That a Time (1982).

In the U.S. folk music the Weavers have a permanent place. Their influence reached far into the folk revival in the sixties and paved the way for groups like the Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary.

2001 The Weavers were incorporated into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In February 2006, they received the Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement ( Lifetime Achievement Award).

Discography

  • The Weavers Greatest Hits
  • Was not That a Time! ( Box Set )
  • Best of the Vanguard Years
  • Rarities from the Vanguard Vault
  • Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (Live)
  • The Almanac
  • The Best of the Decca Years
  • Ultimate Collection
  • The Weavers Classics
  • Best of the Weavers
  • Gospel
  • We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  • The Weavers on Tour (Live)

Award

Decca Records Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Integrated Authority File
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