UPDATED: Folk Musician And Traditional Roots Music Preservationist Mike Seeger Dies
Battle With Cancer Ended Friday Evening, August 7th | By Patte Wood
Staff Reporter |
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 www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111693752.
The following obituary, written by Bob Cherry on August 8, 2009, is from CYBERGRASS The Internet Bluegrass Music News Magazine ww.cybergrass.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6622:
"Mike Seeger lost his battle with cancer last night, August 7, 2009. Back on Thursday, July 30, Mary Katherine Adlin at Folklore Productions informed us that Mike Seeger, one of the founding members of the New Lost City Ramblers, and the half-brother of folk singer Pete Seeger, had been battling leukemia for several years; just recently he was diagnosed with a new and very aggressive form of cancer, called multiple myeloma. In the same forthright way that he has lived his life, he made the decision to discontinue treatment and enter hospice care. Last night, August 7, his battle ended. Mike died in hospice care at his home in Virginia, surrounded by the loving care of his wife, his sons and his sister. He was at peace and not in pain.
"Just a few days ago, we wrote about The New Lost City Ramblers DVD video. This is sad news to follow that happy release announcement. Mike Seeger and The New Lost City Ramblers captured the essence of old music from early 78 records and spend decades performing the traditional music in the traditional way thus preserving it for many generations.
"During the '60s folk movement, Seeger and the New Lost City Ramblers were one of the most influential bands going. Scores of new bands picked up on what they were doing and pushed the music into the public's eye. Seeger was both a musician and a historian devoted to preserving the music he loved.
"Seeger was a folk musician who was also accomplished on multiple instruments. He performed playing the fiddle, banjo, mandolin, dobro, and other instruments. Seeger's love for the old time music resulted in a half dozen Grammy® nominations, four NEA grants and numerous other awards.
"Just as he set his own path musically, he chose his own path for his final journey as well. May God be with him."
Mike Seeger was born in New York and grew up in Maryland. He was part of a prominent musical family and became interested in the music of the rural working class, especially researching and recording the music of Southwest Virginia. His father, Charles, was an ethnomusicologist. His mother, Ruth Crawford Seeger, was a music scholar, teacher and classical composer, and his half-brother Pete and sister Peggy are renowned musicians and social activists. Mike is survived by his wife Alexia, three sons Kim, Chris Arley and Jeremy from his marriage to Marjorie Ostrow, four stepchildren Cory Foster, Jenny Foster, Joel Foster and Jesse Foster and his sisters Peggy and Barbara, half brothers John and Pete and 13 grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to:
Folklore Productions
1671 Appian Way
Santa Monica, CA 90401
mkaldin@foldoreproductions.com.
A performance by Mike Seeger at The Kennedy Center can be seen at www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=SEEGERMIKE
In her message to family and friends about his death, Alexia, Mike's wife of 14 years wrote, "Mike has completed his passage. He died this evening, August 7, some time before 9 pm. Family, home, peace. It's what he wanted, and he did it so gracefully. It went too fast for me to comprehend - but he always said 'I don't want to linger!' Clear in what he's about, as always."
Mike Seeger's quiet, persistent, and generous energy and championing of old time and roots music coalesced into a vibrant music scene in Rockbridge and Southwest Virginia that will reverberate for years to come. | | | | | |
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