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'''The Weavers''' were an extremely popular American [[folk music]] quartet of the 1940s through 1960s who not only had numerous hits of their own, but were important in being precursors of the great folk-music craze of the late 1950s that introduced such artists as the [[Kingston Trio]], [[Joan Baez]], and [[Peter, Paul and Mary]]. Like their noted contemporary [[Burl Ives]], they not only sang traditional American folk songs but also introduced songs from around the world.  Their repertoire was broad, drawn from traditional black [[Gospel music|gospel music]], children's songs, the [[Blues|blues]], and other sources such as the labor movement. Along with their guitars, banjos, and other folk instruments, many of their studio-recorded performances also had lush orchestrations behind them, as was typical for much of their era.  Although their commercial success was later eclipsed by such acts as the Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary, they nevertheless sold millions of records of their own and were acknowleged by all that followed as being the seminal force in the folk-music field.
'''The Weavers''' were an extremely popular American [[folk music]] quartet of the 1940s through 1960s who not only had numerous hits of their own, but were important in being precursors of the great folk-music craze of the late 1950s that introduced such artists as the [[Kingston Trio]], [[Joan Baez]], and [[Peter, Paul and Mary]]. Like their noted contemporary [[Burl Ives]], they not only sang traditional American folk songs but also introduced songs from around the world.  Their repertoire was broad, drawn from traditional black [[Gospel music|gospel music]], children's songs, the [[Blues|blues]], and other sources such as the labor movement. Along with their guitars, banjos, and other folk instruments, many of their studio-recorded performances also had lush orchestrations behind them, as was typical for much of their era.  Although their commercial success was later eclipsed by such acts as the Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary, they nevertheless sold millions of records of their own and were acknowleged by all that followed as being the seminal force in the folk-music field.


The composition of the Weavers' four members (always three men and one woman) varied somewhat over the years, but the original group comprised [[Pete Seeger]], [[Lee Hays]], [[Fred Hellerman]], and [[Ronnie Gilbert]]. Many of the songs that the Weavers sang on recordings and at concerts are now considered standards in the folk repertoire, including ''The Sinking of the Reuben James'', ''Hard, Ain't It Hard'', ''On Top of Old Smokey'', ''Follow the Drinking Gourd'', ''Kisses Sweeter than Wine,'' ''The Wreck of the John B'' (also known as ''The John B. Sails'' and ''Sloop John B''), ''The Rock Island Line'', ''The Midnight Special'', ''Pay Me My Money Down'',  and ''Darling Corey''.
The composition of the Weavers' four members (always three men and one woman) varied somewhat over the years, but the original group comprised [[Pete Seeger]], [[Lee Hays]], [[Fred Hellerman]], and [[Ronnie Gilbert]]. Many of the songs that the Weavers sang on recordings and at concerts are now considered standards in the folk repertoire, including ''The Sinking of the Reuben James'', ''Hard, Ain't It Hard'', ''On Top of Old Smokey'', ''Follow the Drinking Gourd'', ''Kisses Sweeter than Wine,'' ''The Wreck of the John B'' (also known as ''The John B. Sails'' and ''Sloop John B''), ''The Rock Island Line'', ''The Midnight Special'', ''Pay Me My Money Down'',  and ''Darling Corey''.


The name came from an 1892 drama of the same name by [[Gerhart Hauptmann]]. After a period of being unable to find much paid work, they finally landed a steady engagement at the [[Village Vanguard]] jazz club. This led to their discovery by arranger-bandleader [[Gordon Jenkins]] and their signing with [[Decca Records]]. The group had a big hit in 1949 with [[Leadbelly]]'s ''[[Goodnight Irene]]'', backed with the 1941 Israeli song ''[[Tzena, Tzena, Tzena]]''.
Originally based in [[New York, New York|New York City]], the Weavers were formed in [[Greenwich Village]] in November 1948 by Seeger and Hays, veterans of an earlier group called the '''Almanac Singers''', who had performed sporadically in the early 1940s with various other artists, the most noted of whom were [[Cisco Houston]] and the great folk-song composer [[Woody Guthrie]].  The political orientation of the Almanac Singers had been notably leftist and labor-oriented and had suffering accordingly during the highly patriotic years of [[World War II]]. Finally deciding to disband, they were in a sense reincarnated as the Weavers, who also had a politically progressive philosophy and who, like the Almanac Singers, supported union activities and social justice.
 
 
based in the [[Greenwich Village]] area of [[New York City]],The Weavers group was formed in November 1948 by  
 
Film footage of the Weavers is relatively scarce. The group appeared as a specialty act in a B-movie musical, ''Disc Jockey'' (1951), and filmed five of their record hits that same year for TV producer Lou Snader: "[[Goodnight Irene]]," "[[Tzena Tzena Tzena]]," "So Long," "[[Around the World (song)|Around the World]]," and "[[The Roving Kind (song)|The Roving Kind]]."
 
 
The Weavers encouraged sing-alongs in their concerts, and Seeger would sometimes shout out the lyrics in advance of each line.
 
The Weavers eventually came under political pressure because of their history of singing [[protest song]]s and folk songs favoring [[labor unions]], as well as for the leftist political beliefs of the individuals in the group. They avoided recording the more controversial songs in their repertoire, and refrained from performing at controversial venues and events. The leftwing press derided them as having sold out their beliefs in exchange for popular success. Despite their caution, however, they were placed under [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] surveillance and [[blacklist]]ed by parts of the entertainment industry during the [[McCarthyism|McCarthy]] era, from 1950. Right-wing and anti-Communist groups protested at their performances and harassed promoters. As a result of the blacklisting, the Weavers lost radio airplay and the group's popularity diminished rapidly, reducing them to playing smaller venues for occasionally hostile audiences. Decca terminated their recording contract and deleted their songs from its catalog in 1953.
 
Pete Seeger continued his solo career after the group disbanded in 1952, although Seeger continued to suffer from the effects of blacklisting. In December 1955, the group reunited to play a sold-out concert at [[Carnegie Hall]]. The concert was a huge success. [[At Carnegie Hall (The Weavers album)|A recording of the concert]] was issued by the independent [[Vanguard Records]], and this led to their signing by that record label (by the mid-1950s, folk music was surging in popularity and McCarthyism was fading).   
 
The Weavers were hired to provide the vocals for a TV commercial, the product being a brand of cigarettes. Seeger, opposed to the dangers of tobacco and discouraged by the group's apparent selling out to commercial interests, spent his last year with the Weavers honoring his commitments, but feeling like a prisoner. He left the group on April 1, 1958.
 
Seeger recommended [[Erik Darling]] of [[The Tarriers]] as his replacement. Darling remained with the group until June 1962, leaving to pursue a solo career and to eventually form the folk-jazz trio [[The Rooftop Singers]]. [[Frank Hamilton (musician)|Frank Hamilton]], who replaced Darling, stayed with the group nine months, giving his notice just before the Weavers celebrated its 15th anniversary with two nights of concerts at [[Carnegie Hall]] in March 1963. Folksinger [[Bernie Krause]], later a pioneer in bringing the [[Moog synthesizer]] to popular music, was the last performer to occupy "the Seeger chair." The group disbanded in 1964, but Gilbert, Hellerman and Hays occasionally reunited with either Seeger or Darling into 1980.
 
Lee Hays, ill and confined to a wheelchair, wistfully approached the original Weavers for one last get-together. Hays's informal picnic prompted a professional reunion, and a triumphant return to Carnegie Hall. A [[Documentary film|documentary]] film, ''The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time!'', chronicled the history of the group, and the events leading up to the reunion; it was released in [[1982]], after Hays's death.  
 
Lee Hays died in 1981; a book biography, "Lonesome Traveler" by Doris Willens, was published in 1988. Ronnie Gilbert has toured America as a soloist. Fred Hellerman is a recording engineer and producer. Pete Seeger is the elder statesman of folk music; he doesn't travel as often as formerly. The group was inducted into the [[Vocal Group Hall of Fame]] in 2001.
 
In February 2006 The Weavers received the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]] given out annually at the Grammy awards show. Represented by members Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman, they struck a chord with the crowd as their struggles with political witch hunts during the 1950s were recounted. "If you can exist, and stay the course -- not a course of blind obstinacy and faulty conception -- but one of decency and good sense, you can outlast your enemies with your honor and integrity intact," said Hellerman.
 
"On Top of Old Smokey", Country Hits, #8, June of 1951, two weeks in top 100
 


== Hit singles in approximate chronological order ==
# ''Goodnight, Irene''—Pop hit, #1; first reached charts on June 30, 1950; 25 weeks in top 100; from a version popularized by [[Lead Belly]] in the 1940s; recorded in New York City on May 26, 1950; released by [[Decca Records]] as catalog number 27077<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Records, 1940 to 1955'', Record Research, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WS, 1973</ref>; the B-side of ''Tzena, Tzena, Tzena''<ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>
# ''Tzena, Tzena, Tzena''—Pop Hit, #2; reached charts in 1950; originally written in Hebrew by Issachar Miron and Jehiel Hagges; later arranged by [[Gordon Jenkins]], whose orchestra backed the Weavers' version; recorded in New York City on May 26, 1950; released by [[Decca Records]] as catalog number 27077<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Records, 1940 to 1955'', Record Research, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WS, 1973</ref>; the A-side of ''Goodnight, Irene''<ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>
# ''The Roving Kind''—Pop hit #11; reached charts in 1950; recorded in New York City on November 3, 1950<ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>
# ''On Top of Old Smokey''—Country hit, #8; Pop hit #1 on [[Cash Box]] chart and #2 on [[Billboard]] chart; traditional Appalachian folksong rearranged by [[Pete Seeger]]; recorded in Los Angeles on February 25, 1951<ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>; released by [[Decca Records]] as catalog number 27515<ref>[[Decca Records]] in the 27500 to 27999 series at [http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec27500.htm]</ref>; reached charts in June, 1951; two weeks in top 100 Country hits<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs, 1944 to 2005'', Record Research, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WS, 2005, page 408 ISBN 0-89820-165-9 </ref>; sold over a million copies
# ''Kisses Sweeter than Wine''—Pop Hit, #19; reached charts in 1951; written by the Weavers under the pseudonyms of Joel Newman and Paul Campbell; derived from a traditional Irish song as later adapted by [[Lead Belly]]; recorded in Chicago on June 12, 1951; released by [[Decca Records]] as catalog number 27670 <ref>[[Decca Records]] in the 27500 to 27999 series at[http://settlet.fateback.com/Dec27500.htm];</ref> the A-side of ''When the Saints Go Marching in''
# ''So Long (It's Been to Know Yuh)''—Pop hit #4; reached charts in 1951; written by [[Woodie Guthrie]]; recorded in New York City on October 24, 1950; <ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>
# ''When the Saints Go Marching In''—Pop hit #27; reached charts in 1951; recorded in Chicago on June 12, 1951; the B-side of ''Kisses Sweeter than Wine'' <ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>
# ''Wimoweh''—Pop hit #14; reached charts in 1951; [[Zulu]] tribal chant arranged by [[Pete Seeger]]; recorded in New York City on October 25, 1951 <ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>
# ''Around the Corner (Beneath the Berry Tree)''—Pop hit #11; reached charts in 1952; written by South African singer [[Josef Marais]]; recorded in New York City on February 27, 1952  <ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>
# ''The Midnight Special''—Pop hit #30; reached charts in 1952; adaption of a [[Lead Belly]] song; recorded in New York City on October 25, 1951<ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>
# ''Sylvie (Bring Me L'il Water, Silvy)''—Pop hit #27; reached charts in 1953; adaption of a [[Lead Belly]] song; recorded in New York City on February 26, 1953 <ref>''The Best of the Decca Years'', [[Decca Records]], 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo </ref>


==Discography==
==References==
* ''The Weavers' Greatest Hits''
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
* ''[[At Carnegie Hall (The Weavers album)|The Weavers at Carnegie Hall (Live)]]''
<references/>
* ''The Weavers at Carnegie Hall (Live) Vol. 2''
</div>
* ''Wasn't That a Time!'' box set
* ''Best of the Vanguard Years''
* ''The Weavers Reunion at Carnegie Hall: 1963 (Live)''
* ''The Reunion at Carnegie Hall, 1963, Pt. 2 (Live)''
* ''The Weavers at Home'' - Vanguard VRS 9024 (1957-58)
* ''Travelling On with The Weavers'' VRS 9043 (1957-58)
* ''Reunion at Carnegie Hall No. 2 (Live)''
* ''Rarities from the Vanguard Vault''
* ''Kisses Sweeter Than Wine'' (compilation of 1950-51 live shows, edited by Fred Hellerman)
* ''The Weavers Almanac''
* ''The Best of the Decca Years''
* ''Ultimate Collection''
* ''The Weavers Classics''
* ''Best of the Weavers''
* ''Gospel''
* ''Goodnight Irene: Weavers 1949-53'' box set
* '' We Wish You a Merry Christmas''
* '' The Weavers on Tour (Live)'' - Vanguard VRS 9013
* ''[[The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time!]]'' (video)


==External links==
[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
* [http://www.folkmusicarchives.org/weavers.htm Folk music archives article on the Weavers]
* [http://www.vocalhalloffame.com/inductees/the_weavers.html Vocal Group Hall of Fame article on the Weavers]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbdOFz_PQOQ "Good Night Irene"]

Latest revision as of 16:01, 27 October 2024

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The Weavers were an extremely popular American folk music quartet of the 1940s through 1960s who not only had numerous hits of their own, but were important in being precursors of the great folk-music craze of the late 1950s that introduced such artists as the Kingston Trio, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Like their noted contemporary Burl Ives, they not only sang traditional American folk songs but also introduced songs from around the world. Their repertoire was broad, drawn from traditional black gospel music, children's songs, the blues, and other sources such as the labor movement. Along with their guitars, banjos, and other folk instruments, many of their studio-recorded performances also had lush orchestrations behind them, as was typical for much of their era. Although their commercial success was later eclipsed by such acts as the Kingston Trio and Peter, Paul and Mary, they nevertheless sold millions of records of their own and were acknowleged by all that followed as being the seminal force in the folk-music field.

The composition of the Weavers' four members (always three men and one woman) varied somewhat over the years, but the original group comprised Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, and Ronnie Gilbert. Many of the songs that the Weavers sang on recordings and at concerts are now considered standards in the folk repertoire, including The Sinking of the Reuben James, Hard, Ain't It Hard, On Top of Old Smokey, Follow the Drinking Gourd, Kisses Sweeter than Wine, The Wreck of the John B (also known as The John B. Sails and Sloop John B), The Rock Island Line, The Midnight Special, Pay Me My Money Down, and Darling Corey.

Originally based in New York City, the Weavers were formed in Greenwich Village in November 1948 by Seeger and Hays, veterans of an earlier group called the Almanac Singers, who had performed sporadically in the early 1940s with various other artists, the most noted of whom were Cisco Houston and the great folk-song composer Woody Guthrie. The political orientation of the Almanac Singers had been notably leftist and labor-oriented and had suffering accordingly during the highly patriotic years of World War II. Finally deciding to disband, they were in a sense reincarnated as the Weavers, who also had a politically progressive philosophy and who, like the Almanac Singers, supported union activities and social justice.

Hit singles in approximate chronological order

  1. Goodnight, Irene—Pop hit, #1; first reached charts on June 30, 1950; 25 weeks in top 100; from a version popularized by Lead Belly in the 1940s; recorded in New York City on May 26, 1950; released by Decca Records as catalog number 27077[1]; the B-side of Tzena, Tzena, Tzena[2]
  2. Tzena, Tzena, Tzena—Pop Hit, #2; reached charts in 1950; originally written in Hebrew by Issachar Miron and Jehiel Hagges; later arranged by Gordon Jenkins, whose orchestra backed the Weavers' version; recorded in New York City on May 26, 1950; released by Decca Records as catalog number 27077[3]; the A-side of Goodnight, Irene[4]
  3. The Roving Kind—Pop hit #11; reached charts in 1950; recorded in New York City on November 3, 1950[5]
  4. On Top of Old Smokey—Country hit, #8; Pop hit #1 on Cash Box chart and #2 on Billboard chart; traditional Appalachian folksong rearranged by Pete Seeger; recorded in Los Angeles on February 25, 1951[6]; released by Decca Records as catalog number 27515[7]; reached charts in June, 1951; two weeks in top 100 Country hits[8]; sold over a million copies
  5. Kisses Sweeter than Wine—Pop Hit, #19; reached charts in 1951; written by the Weavers under the pseudonyms of Joel Newman and Paul Campbell; derived from a traditional Irish song as later adapted by Lead Belly; recorded in Chicago on June 12, 1951; released by Decca Records as catalog number 27670 [9] the A-side of When the Saints Go Marching in
  6. So Long (It's Been to Know Yuh)—Pop hit #4; reached charts in 1951; written by Woodie Guthrie; recorded in New York City on October 24, 1950; [10]
  7. When the Saints Go Marching In—Pop hit #27; reached charts in 1951; recorded in Chicago on June 12, 1951; the B-side of Kisses Sweeter than Wine [11]
  8. Wimoweh—Pop hit #14; reached charts in 1951; Zulu tribal chant arranged by Pete Seeger; recorded in New York City on October 25, 1951 [12]
  9. Around the Corner (Beneath the Berry Tree)—Pop hit #11; reached charts in 1952; written by South African singer Josef Marais; recorded in New York City on February 27, 1952 [13]
  10. The Midnight Special—Pop hit #30; reached charts in 1952; adaption of a Lead Belly song; recorded in New York City on October 25, 1951[14]
  11. Sylvie (Bring Me L'il Water, Silvy)—Pop hit #27; reached charts in 1953; adaption of a Lead Belly song; recorded in New York City on February 26, 1953 [15]

References

  1. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Records, 1940 to 1955, Record Research, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WS, 1973
  2. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  3. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Records, 1940 to 1955, Record Research, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WS, 1973
  4. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  5. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  6. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  7. ↑ Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series at [1]
  8. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs, 1944 to 2005, Record Research, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WS, 2005, page 408 ISBN 0-89820-165-9
  9. ↑ Decca Records in the 27500 to 27999 series at[2];
  10. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  11. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  12. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  13. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  14. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
  15. ↑ The Best of the Decca Years, Decca Records, 1996, liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo
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