Fred Hellerman

Fred Hellerman (May 13, 1927 – September 1, 2016) was an American folk singer, guitarist, producer, and songwriter. Hellerman was an original member of the seminal American folk group The Weavers, together with Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Ronnie Gilbert. He produced the record album Alice's Restaurant (1967) for Arlo Guthrie, played accompaniment guitar on scores of folk albums, and wrote a number of folk and protest songs.

Fred Hellerman
Born(1927-05-13)May 13, 1927
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 1, 2016(2016-09-01) (aged 89)
Weston, Connecticut, U.S.
GenresAmerican folk music
Occupation(s)Musician, record producer, singer-songwriter
Associated actsPete Seeger, The Weavers, Arlo Guthrie

Life and career

Born on May 13, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York[1] to Jewish parents, Hellerman was the youngest of three children.[2] His father, Harry, was an immigrant from Riga, Latvia and mother, Clara (née Robinson), was born in the United States to immigrants from Riga.[1][3] He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949[4] at Brooklyn College. In 1948, Hellerman formed the Weavers with Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, and Lee Hays. Hellerman wrote and co-wrote some of their hits. He also wrote under the aliases Fred Brooks and Bob Hill. Because of his involvement with left-wing groups during the 1930s and 1940s, Hellerman came under suspicion of Communist sympathies during the McCarthy era.

In 1950, Hellerman was named, along with the rest of the Weavers, in the anti-communist tract Red Channels and was placed on the industry blacklist. In February 1952, an FBI informant testified that the Weavers were members of the Communist party.[5] The group, unable to perform on television, radio, or in most music halls, broke up in 1952, but resumed singing in 1955. They continued together until 1963 (with changes in personnel). He also played on Joan Baez's eponymous first album in 1960. The Weavers held several reunion concerts in 1980, shortly before Hays' death, which were documented in the film The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time! (1982).

Hellermen, writing under the name of Fred Brooks, arranged "Green Grow the Lilacs" on Harry Belafonte's 1959 album, Love is a Gentle Thing. The song was based on a traditional song of Irish origin that was widely sung in the US in the 19th century with different lyrics. Hellerman wrote two original verses and adapted the chorus.

Hellerman married the writer Susan Lardner, the daughter of John Lardner, in 1970. The Hellermans had two children, Caleb and Simeon.[1]

Hellerman was the last surviving original member of the Weavers. He died on September 1, 2016, at his home in Weston, Connecticut, at the age of 89.[1][6]

See also

References
  1. Grimes, William (September 2, 2016). "Fred Hellerman, Last of the Weavers Folk Group, Dies at 89". The New York Times. p. A17. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  2. Schofield, Derek (September 6, 2016). "Fred Hellerman obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  3. "R.I.P. Fred Hellerman of The Weavers At 89 - Noise11.com". noise11.com. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  4. Lawless, Ray McKinley (1965). Folksingers and Folksongs in America: A Handbook of Biography, Bibliography, and Discography (2nd ed.). Praeger. p. 111. ISBN 978-0313231049.
  5. "Fred Hellerman, folk singer and songwriter – obituary". The Telegraph. September 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  6. Smith, Harrison (September 5, 2016). "Fred Hellerman, guitarist with pivotal folk quartet the Weavers, dies at 89". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
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