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BY
MITCHELL TROPIN
The
2002 Takoma Park Folk Festival will feature Tao Rodriguez-Seeger,
grandson of the legendary musician Pete Seeger. In a
way, Tao will be following in his grandfatherŐs footsteps.
Back
in 1985, Pete Seeger performed at the folk festival.
It was his way of repaying a debt to a man whom the
festival is honoring this year: Sammy Abbott.
Many
people were surprised to see the legendary Seeger performing
at the festival, which was a pretty low-key affair in
the mid-1980s. But there he was, taking the stage on
a hot Sunday afternoon. The sloping hills behind Takoma
Park Middle School were jammed with people who came
to see the man.
After
Seeger performed a few songs, he stopped and said, "I
bet you are wondering why I am standing here!"
He then explained the gift he was giving to an old friend.
In
the 1950's, Sammy Abbott was promoting a concert at
the DC Jewish Community Center on 16th Street in downtown
Washington. On the bill were Woody Guthrie and Seeger,
who was then a member of the Weavers, the renowned folk
group.
The
McCarthy era was at its height, and the fear of Communism
was poisoning the nationŐs capital. FBI Director J.
Edgar Hoover singled out folk musicians for scrutiny
because of their liberal views, especially outspoken
performers like Guthrie and Seeger. Folk music fans
were not excluded, either.
Sure
enough, when people arrived at the DCJCC to buy tickets,
they found FBI agents taking down license plate numbers
and asking for names. The tactics scared off most people,
and the concert had to be cancelled. Abbott faced a
huge financial loss, Seeger told the festivalgoers.
Seeger
said he went over to the discouraged Abbott and promised
Sammy that he would make it up to him, but did not say
when.
Some
30 years later, Seeger appeared at the festival, played
for free, and made good on that promise.
Folk
Festival - Two Articles: Saturday Night Kickoff, Festival
Over-view
Link
to Takoma Folk Fest Website
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