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The Ballad of Pete Seeger

We begin today’s very special Uprising revolutionary music program with legendary folk hero and music legend, Pete Seeger through a very special two part tribute produced by the Pacifica Radio Archives. The Ballad of Pete Seeger features historic live performances, actuality and interviews from the Pacifica Radio Archives to document the life of one of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st Centuries. The 2 CD set also features an intimate conversation between Academy Award winning actor and director Tim Robbins and Pete Seeger recorded in July 2006 at Pete’s home. The program is introduced by Ry Cooder. Part 1 examines Pete Seeger’s life from 1938 through 1952, including his travels with Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, the Almanac Singers, and his work with the Labor and Peace Movements, his fight against facism, the creation of People’s Songs Incorporated and his work with The Weavers. Pete Seeger remains optimistic despite a lifetime of FBI surveillance, black-listers and censors.

Part 2 of the Ballad of Pete Seeger continues Pete’s journey exploring the rich American folk music tradition that inspired a whole generation of artists like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter Paul and Mary and the Byrds. It also covers Seeger’s epic battle with HUAC, his anti-war stance on Vietnam, and his work in the environmental movement.

The Ballad of Pete Seeger is woven together with live music and interviews from Pete from over 40 years of recordings contained in the Pacifica Radio Archives.

Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations

Cornel West is one of the US’s most gifted, provocative, and important public intellectuals. He is a professor of Religion and African American Studies at Princeton University and formerly taught at Harvard University. He is best known for his two books, Race Matters, and more recently Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism. Cornel West has won numerous awards, including the American Book Award, and has received more than 20 honorary degrees. Now he unveils his newest project, an album of hip hop music collaborating with such musical greats like Prince, KRS1, M1, Malik Yusef, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli and others. The album is called “Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations and it is the brainchild of Black Men Who Mean Business, a group effort by Cornel West, his brother Clifton West, and Mike Dailey. West’s earlier album was called “Sketches of my Culture.”

Never Forget is put out by Hidden Beach Media and was officially released on June 19th 2007. Cornel West is the author of Race Matters, and Democracy Matters, professor of Religion and African American Studies at Princeton University

Hidden Beach Records has generously donated limited copies of Never Forget to KPFK in a ‘Win it before you can buy it’ promotion. You can get the CD directly from them at www.hiddenbeach.com in July 2007.

The Nightwatchman: One Man Revolution

Musician and political activist Tom Morello has just released his first solo album, “One Man Revolution,” as his alter ego, “The Nightwatchman.” Perhaps best known for his innovative guitar solos and heavy rock riffs, Tom Morello turns to his acoustic guitar on “One Man Revolution.” Released this past Tuesday, the album features thirteen politically charged folk songs including “No One Left,” which first appeared on the soundtrack, “Songs and Artists That Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11.” The songs are a departure from Morello’s previous rock heavy music. This new album features subtle rhythms and melodies coupled with dark politically lyrical themes. The Nightwatchman has long been a staple at political rallies in solidarity with everything from striking grocery workers to immigrant marches. Tom Morello recently reunited with former Rage Against the Machine lead singer Zack de la Rocha in Chicago to perform and celebrate the recent labor victory of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers over McDonalds. Gabriel San Roman and I spoke with him recently while he was on a during a break from rehearsals for the recent Rage reunion concert in Coachella.

For more information, visit www.nightwatchmanmusic.com, and www.axisofjustice.org.

Thank you Gifts:

Ticket Giveaways with the Revolutionary Music Pack: 5 pairs to see “Export Quality” and five pairs for “Sojourn at Ararat”