The Weavers
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.
Discography
- The Weavers' Greatest Hits
- The Weavers at Carnegie Hall (Live)
- The Weavers at Carnegie Hall (Live) Vol. 2
- 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)