Folk singer and songwriter Pete Seeger passed away this week at the age of 94. While he was regarded as a pioneer of folk music, having written classics like “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”, “Turn, Turn, Turn”, and “If I Had a Hammer”, we still remember him for his work on Sesame Street over the years.
Seeger appeared on Sesame Street waaaay back in the first season, in episode #0048, in which he sang four songs. In episode #0148, his car conveniently/inconveniently broke down near Sesame Street, so rather than call AAA, he pulled out his banjo for an impromptu sing-along. Seeger visited Sesame Street several times in the first six seasons of the show, and in 1974, he and Brother Kirk recorded their very own Sesame Street album, of which you can hear a few tracks right here:
In 1988, Pete Seeger returned to Sesame Street to make a very special cameo in the celebrity version of “Put Down the Duckie”. You can spot him around the 3:28 mark.
And in 2009, Oscar the Grouch returned the favor by appearing at Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall, singing Seeger’s “Garbage” with Tom Chapin and Michael Mask.
Pete Seeger obviously had a strong connection to Sesame Street’s long history, and we’re glad that we had the opportunity to appreciate his talent and count him among the celebrities that helped to make the show what it is today.
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by Joe Hennes – Joe@ToughPigs.com
