Mike Seeger dies at 75

I don't know if this has already been posted; if it has, my apologies . . .

Folk Musician And Traditional Roots Music Preservationist Mike Seeger Dies --
Battle With Cancer Ended Friday Evening, August 7th
http://www.rockbridgeweekly.com/rw_article.php?ndx=14875



Lexington, VA (August 8, 2009) - Alexia Smith, wife of folklorist and roots music preservationist Mike Seeger, has informed the Rockbridge Community that Mike died peacefully at his home on Enfield Road the evening of August 7th about 9 p.m. Seeger was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and decided to forego further treatment and entered hospice care. He was surrounded by family and friends during his last days as he wished. Seeger was 75 years old. According to the family, a memorial service celebrating his life will be planned for a future date.

Seeger contributed his musical talent and knowledge of southern traditional roots music to the community in Rockbridge since moving here in 1981. Throughout his career and while living in Rockbridge he pursued many projects to preserve traditional southern roots music and dance recording more than 70 albums. Most notable are his recordings of roots music and musicians for the Smithsonian with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Locally, he was the main impetus in the creation of The Rockbridge Mountain Music and Dance Festival, a music festival by and for musicians in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, in 1986 and he encouraged Bruce Clark to found Clark's Ole Time Music Center, both in Rockbridge County. Seeger also performed locally at festivals and events, sharing his talent and knowledge of southern roots music with the community.

Word about his death quickly spread throughout the bluegrass and roots music community and was posted on various roots and bluegrass music websites. A compilation of his recordings and achievements can be found on the NPR website at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111693752.

- much more . . .

http://www.rockbridgeweekly.com/rw_article.php?ndx=14875

("I Have a Rendezvous With Death", which we read in high school back in the Dark Ages.) Alan Seeger was a classmate of T.S. Eliot's at Harvard. Mike's father (and Pete's), Charles Seeger was a noted musicologist.