Pete Seeger celebrates 90th with musician pals

He continued to record and make concert appearances, although he was banned from American network TV for 17 years. When he finally resurfaced on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" on CBS in 1967, his anti-Vietnam War song, "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy," was censored. But it was broadcast the next year and is credited by many observers for helping cement public opinion against the war.

He still lives on the same patch of land in upstate New York where he's been with his wife, Toshi, since 1949, but travels less.

His once confident, split-tenor voice quavers now, and during Sunday night's party he struggled to be heard. During the concert's final encore, he let the crowd do the heavy lifting in a rousing version of "Goodnight, Irene."

"Pete has always believed in the power of singing to change the world," said Arlo Guthrie earlier, paying tribute to the man who befriended his father. "And there's a special feeling when people sing together. It changes everything, both inside you and outside."

--

calendar@latimes.com