pete seeger has never salaried attention to demographics or audience segments. his message has always been approximately inconclusiveness as a performer.

And he's a performer in a Lot Of senses of the word.

"a musician , singer , songwriter , folklorist , labor activist , environmentalist , peace advocate , " listed tim robbins at the inaugurate of an all-star assembly at madison square garden last can to commemorate seeger's 90th birthday.

This celebration has been captured as a "great performances" special , and it's full of passion and ideals , nostalgia for past income and hope for the future. (it premieres this week , airing individually upon pbs stations over the next few weeks; hinder local listings for date and time.)

Joining seeger are supplementary than 40 artists including bruce springsteen , john mellencamp , arlo guthrie , joan baez , kris kristofferson , richie havens , roger mcguinn , ani difranco , taj mahal , steve earle , tom morello and dave matthews.

Collectively , they of a happy activism and like of country. at the same time , they befriend shed a little light (for those of us who poverty it) upon seeger's remarkable impact.

The gathered talent invites the audience to unite in singing "we shall subdue , " while reminding us that it was seeger who helped convey it from a labor chant to a sign obliging rights chant.

"turn! turn! turn! (to all things there is a season) , " a signature for the byrds 40 years ago , was written by seeger (in collaboration with the bible) , and former byrds member mcguinn is upon hand to perform it as if it had been recorded yesterday.

Mellencamp sings "if i had a hammer (the hammer song) , " a peace chant rightfully immersed in the culture it's tough to believe seeger could hold written it at the dawn of the militaristic 1950s red frighten.

The concert was a income for the hudson river sloop clearwater , an association seeger started to defend and defend the hudson river and other natural resources. indeed , the beautifully staged concert (and tv version) takes place upon the "deck" of a "boat , " with strings of lights tracing its mast and sails that raise to the rafters of the garden. this is a vivid representation of the organization's hold vessel , the gaff sloop clearwater.

The clearwater and its mission of conservation also inspire a chant "sailin' up , sailin' down , " which declares , "the river can be dirty now , but it's gettin' cleaner every day."

Baez sings "where hold all the flowers gone?"

Havens serves up his robust "freedom."

And altho he doesn't onstage much anymore , seeger does what he's been fulfilling as long as he's been singing: leads others in chant. wiry and ruddy-faced in his jeans , cap and bright flannel drudgery shirt , he urges the audience to take installment in "amazing grace , " heartily assuring one and all , "there's no such thing as a defective discern , as long as you're singing."

The concert ends upon a lofty discern with another rousing singalong: "this land is your land."

That's shortly after springsteen steps upon stage to perform "the spirit of tom joad" in duet with morello , the former fad against the machine and audioslave guitarist.

During his speckle , it's springsteen who maybe best puts seeger in perspective: "a walking , singing reminder of all of america's history ... a testament of the might of chant to nudge history along."

Then , with amused admiration , he adds , "despite pete's somewhat benignant grandfatherly aspect , he is a creature of a obdurate , defiant and filthy optimism." that makes springsteen chortle. "and it won't let him take a step back from the things he believes in."

This concert special is convincing evidence. seeger sails upon , like the chant says , "catchin' fish and catchin' hell , " in his 91st defiant , sanguine year.