A musical celebration of the life and career of songwriter, composer, performer and founding member of the seminal folk group, "The Weavers," Fred Hellerman (May 13, 1927 - September 1, 2016), will take place Sunday, September 24, at 4 PM at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street in Manhattan. The Grammy Award winning-artist passed away last September at 89 years of age.
The memorial celebration, Fred Hellerman: A Tribute in Songs will offer musical performances, words of remembrance and an afternoon of friendship and solidarity. Remarks, stories and musical tributes will be shared by celebrated artists, friends, and family including members of the beloved trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Peter Yarrow and Noel "Paul" Stookey, composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist David Amram, folk singer-songwriter Tom Chapin, the Chapin Sisters, Yo La Tengo co-founder Ira Kaplan, and Grammy Award-winning producer David Bernz and his long-running tribute band, Work o' the Weavers. Additional musicians to perform include singer-songwriter Joe Heukerott and Connecticut-based recording artists Emma Kiara & Friends and Fran Southworth, as well as video tributes from artists who cannot be in attendance. More special guests will be announced.
Fred Hellerman, a product of Brooklyn's Lafayette High School, taught himself to play guitar while serving in the Coast Guard in the waning months of World War II. Back home, he found himself in the midst of a nascent folk music scene that was helping give voice to union organizers, civil rights activists and other politically conscious idealists. With Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Ronnie Gilbert, Hellerman formed "The Weavers," who set the standard for a generation of folk musicians. A restless creative spirit, Hellerman also worked as a composer, arranger, songwriter and producer, writing hits over three decades and making records with Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Theo Bikel, Arlo Guthrie and countless others. He even penned a symphony - "The 4ths of July" - which premiered just months before his death, at age 89.
This event is free and open to the public but tickets must be reserved online to guarantee entry. A line will form the day of the event for any unclaimed tickets and will be released to the public at 3:45 PM. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the performance to pick up Will Call orders, late arrivals cannot be guaranteed tickets.
