Stephen Mihm, Columnist

Pete Seeger: Folkie, Communist, Millionaire

It’s worth noting that Seeger was, in spite of his best efforts to eschew worldly success, a remarkably successful musical entrepreneur who made millions.

January 28, 2014 at 4:32 PM UTC

By Stephen Mihm

Stephen Mihm, a professor of history at the University of Georgia, is coauthor of “Crisis Economics: A Crash Course in the Future of Finance.”

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This article is for subscribers only.

Pete Seeger, who passed away yesterday, has been described as the "father" of American folk music. Like the Coen Brothers' fictional portrayal of ne'er-do-well folk singer Lleywn Davis, Seeger looked the part of the progressive troubadour, oblivious to the worldly business of making money. With his tattered work shirts and his left-wing politics, Seeger looked the part of the man of the people, a card-carrying member of the 99 percent.

This wasn't an act. But it's worth noting that Seeger was, in spite of his best efforts to eschew worldly success, a remarkably successful musical entrepreneur who made millions. His first group, the Weavers, had a string of hits, including a recording of Leadbelly's "Good Night, Irene" that sold a staggering 2 million copies in 1950. Other hits soon followed.