Folk music pioneer and life-long activist Pete Seeger dies at 94

Pete Seeger, the songwriter behind the anti-war ballad “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” co-writer of “If I had a Hammer,” and constant contributor to the landscape of American folk music since the 1940s, died Monday at the age of 94 the New York Times reports.

Seeger was a driving force behind folk music throughout his career, influencing musicians from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen. But Seeger’s own goal was to use his music to influence political change. In Rolling Stone’s obituary of Seeger, David Browne describes him as “a walking, talking, strumming embodiment of the connection between folk song and leftist politics. Throughout his career, he participated in pro-union and civil rights events and protested wars and nuclear power.”

Check out Art Beat for more on Pete Seeger’s life and legacy. You’ll find performances as well as memories from close friends who were inspired by the legendary folksinger.