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Pete Seeger performing on stage in New York in September 2013 AP Photo/Hans Pennik

Folk legend Pete Seeger dies at 94

The folk music champion died of natural causes at a New York hospital last night.

US FOLK SINGER Pete Seeger, famous for his strong lyrics and political activism, has died at the age of 94.

Seeger, who died of natural causes at New York-Presbyterian Hospital last night one week after being hospitalised, spent his life as a champion of folk music.

He was known for his renditions of songs like “If I Had a Hammer” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”, which he co-wrote, as well his version of the civil rights hymn “We Shall Overcome”.

Seeger, who played the guitar and the banjo, was an iconic figure in folk music. He was involved in many political causes, from anti-Nazi protests in the 1940s to the civil rights movement in the 1960s to the  Occupy movement in the 2010s, and was vocal about his beliefs.

He was one of the key figures in the revival of folk music in the US in the late 1940s.

He was kept off television for more than one decade after he was investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1955 who questioned him about his former membership of the Communist Party and charged him with contempt of Congress.

However he later described the 1950s as the highpoint of his career, as he toured America spreading the music that he had created or preserved.

“The most important job I did was go from college to college to college to college, one after the other, usually small ones,” he said in 2006. “…And I showed the kids there’s a lot of great music in this country [the US] they never played on the radio”.

Seeger had the words ‘This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender’ inscribed on his banjo.

“Be wary of great leaders,” he said in 2011 after an Occupy protest in New York. “Hope that there are many, many small leaders”.

He married his wife Toshi in 1943 and the two were together until her death last year.

(Video: abargle/YouTube)

(Video: partridge662/YouTube)

(Video: fful/YouTube)

Additional reporting by Associated Press

Read: Bob Dylan commended for influence on American culture >

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jan 28th 2014, 8:48 AM

    What a life he must have had, to be there as so much happened. RIP.

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    Mute EDDIE BARRETT
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    Jan 28th 2014, 9:33 AM

    What a champion of peaceful protest and a life’s work for The Civil Rights Movement , through his wonderful songwriting of some of the Worlds most beloved Folk Protest songs .
    He was also an early promoter through his radio/tv shows, of The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem , Joan Baez and of course Bob Dylan .
    He also promoted the songs of Woody Guthrie .
    A true legend of Folk and Peaceful Protest !
    Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann !

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    Mute frank mullen
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    Jan 28th 2014, 9:13 AM

    Bruce Springsteen’s cover album of Pete’s songs called the Seeger’s session is a classic, RIP

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    Mute Clodagh O'Donovan
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    Jan 28th 2014, 9:03 AM

    Ah no, I’m so sad to hear that. He was such a lovely man, filled with great songs, stories and always seemed to brim with energy. He was one of a kind, and will be missed.

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    Mute Fergus O'Neill
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    Jan 28th 2014, 9:06 AM

    Goodnight, Irene…

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    Mute ivy mike
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    Jan 28th 2014, 8:47 AM

    Damn

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    Mute Luke Broghan
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    Jan 28th 2014, 10:59 AM

    RIP

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    Mute Liz (10) (^_^)
    Favourite Liz (10) (^_^)
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    Jan 28th 2014, 7:09 PM

    Death of a true great.
    RIP Pete Seeger, thank you for the music and stirring our moral consciousness into action.

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    Mute Horace Downey
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    Jan 28th 2014, 8:49 PM

    Sad to hear of the passing of Pete Seeger loved the music .may he rest In peace

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