Pete Seeger's Net Worth as of 2024
$5 Million
Peter Seeger was born on 3 May 1919 in Manhattan, New York City USA, into a protestant family of German ancestry. Pete was widely known as an American folk singer and social activist. In addition to that, he was an author. He passed away in 2014.
So just how rich was Pete Seeger? Authoritative sources report that Seeger’s net worth was as high as $5 million, accumulated from his over seven decades-long career in the music industry.
Pete Seeger Net Worth $5 million
He attended school in Ridgefield, Connecticut. His family had musical tendencies but didn’t force him to engage in music himself, however, Pete played the ukulele during his formative years.
He attended the boarding school Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut, and in addition to playing ukulele, Pete also learned to play the banjo during this time. He performed on banjo during the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival held in western North Carolina, and at that point Seeger decided to pursue his music career further.
As of the mid ‘30s, Pete was involved in activism. He was known for supporting the Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War, and joined the Communist party plus agitated against US involvement in World War 2, until Germany’s invasion of Russia, and the Japanese attack. He subsequently recorded ‘’ Songs of the Lincoln Battalion’’. In 1939 he became an assistant for ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax, who was his father’s friend. In the early ‘40s, Seeger established two bands: Almanac Singers and The Weavers. In 1948, Seeger wrote and published ‘’ How to Play the Five-String Banjo’’ and shortly after that invented the Long Neck or Seeger banjo.
The Weavers received public recognition, however, things took a turn in 1953 when their music was banned from several radio stations. They had hits such as ‘’Goodnight Irene’’ and ‘’On Top of Old Smoky’’, released in 1957 and 1959 respectively. The later received positive reviews and as of today holds a score as high as five out of five stars on Amazon music. Other hits included ‘’Dusty Old Dust’’. However, in the late ‘50s, the Kingston trio was formed and went on to perform The Weavers’ songs as an homage to the band. During the late ‘50s, Pete played a 12 string guitar, and was also known for using traditional Appalachian style when it came to the banjo. He was still blacklisted from several radio stations, and was giving music lessons in order to make enough money. During the late ‘50s and throughout the ‘60s Pete worked in summer camps and on college campuses. Throughout this era, he created anti-war songs such as ‘’Where Have All the Flowers Gone’’ and ‘’Turn! Turn! Turn!’’. Both of the songs received positive reviews from the audience and hold a high score on Amazon as of today.
Seeger remained associated with organizations such as the Civil Rights Movement and organized the Carnegie Hall concert in 1963. The new anthem of the organization was brought by this event and was entitled ‘’We Shall Overcome’’. As of the same year, Pete toured Australia where his single ‘’Little Boxes’’ became the number one hit on music charts. In the late ‘60s he was no longer on the blacklist of the radio stations. He was the host of the folk music television show entitled ‘’Rainbow Quest’’; some of his guest stars were Johnny Cash, Mississippi John Hurt and Elizabeth Cotten.
He continued being involved in activism. As of the more recent past, he performed at a symposium and concert sponsored by the American Folklife Center dedicated to him and his family.
In his personal life, Pete was married to Toshi-Aline Ōta in 1943Seeger and the couple had four children – she passed away in 2013, and Pete Seeger died on 27 January 2014 in New York City.
