Pete Seeger speaks with attendees at an event at Dia:Beacon April 11 to celebrate Pete Seeger's release of a new audio book. In the background is Seeger's spouse, Toshi Seeger, who died Tuesday night. / Karl Rabe/Journal fileRest in peace, Toshi.
I learned of her passing a few mintes ago from Suzy Thompson, who wrote. "Toshi Seeger, R.I.P. She was a huge influence on me, though she never knew it. Years ago, around 1980, I played at the Clearwater Festival and noticed Toshi Seeger was picking up trash. The queen of the whole festival and she's picking up trash off the ground!!! When we have the BOTMC String Band Contest (a much much more modest event) I always help pick up the trash at the end, and I always remember Toshi when I do that. What an inspiration. My heart goes out to Pete."
I met Toshi and Pete once at the Beacon town hall, where they had been summoned to receive a lifetime achievement award from the town government.
After all the "whereas" and "therefors" Pete lead a group of kinds, the council members and the dozen or so in the audience in a few songs.
Then it struck me, I am going to meet Pete and Toshi, what am I going to say?
In the lobby Pete beat me to it.
He stuck out his hand, shook it firmly and said, "I saw you in the front row singing loudly, YOU are the yeast that makes the bread rise!"
I was flabbergasted.
Toshi looked on, with a coy smile on her face.
Later in my bunk aboard the Mystic Whaler I read the introduction to Sing Out, which concludes, "YOU are the yeast that makes the bread rise!"
I'll give that one to Pete.
And to Toshi for not giving away Pete's secret.
RIP Toshi.
Toshi Seeger by Gene Deitch
Coverage
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20130710/NEWS01/130710026/Toshi-Seeger-wife-folk-legend-Pete-Seeger-dies for the new from the Poughkeepsie Journal
http://singout.org/2013/07/10/toshi-seeger-passes/
