The House of the Rising Sun: Ronnie Gilbert
MILL VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Singer Ronnie Gilbert, a member of the influential 1950s folk quartet the Weavers, has died. She was 88.
Gilbert died of natural causes Saturday at a retirement community in the San Francisco Bay Area suburb of Mill Valley, said her longtime partner, Donna Korones.
With the Weavers, whose other members were Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Fred Hellerman, Gilbert helped spark a national folk revival by churning out hit recordings of “Goodnight Irene,” ”Tzena Tzena Tzena,” ”On Top of Old Smokey,” ”If I Had A Hammer,” ”Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” and “Wimoweh.”
The group was hugely popular before its left-wing activities were targeted by anti-Communists during the McCarthy era. They were blacklisted, unable to record, appear on television or radio and perform in many concert venues, and eventually disbanded.
Gilbert went on to pursue a solo career as a singer, as a stage actor and psychologist.
Gilbert’s memoir, “Ronnie Gilbert: A Radical Life in Song,” which is the same title of a one-woman show she performed for years, will be published in the fall.”
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
June 7, 2015 at 12:29 pm
https://app.box.com/s/12j9mne9k3ly2hl91n2re1y9zaj86vmx
June 7, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Sad news though I have to admit I’m surprised to hear that she was still alive.
June 7, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Birgit,
Your comment made me laugh.
June 7, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Since Ronnie Gilbert lives in my area, I saw her a few times. The last time I saw her was the memorial that was held here for Pete Seeger, held at a place near me. I was lucky enough to get in… there were lines for blocks..( miles). It was hosted by Holly Near. I think somewhere I have a picture of here singing. I knew about the blacklisting, but did not know all the other amazing things she did.
I’ll miss her.
June 7, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Lori,
The Weavers were amazing and her voice was essential to their sound. The blacklisting was ridiculous: McCarthyism was just because of their left-leaning sympathies. It was the age of the scary Communists hiding everywhere.
She was a wonderful example for so many young folk singers.
June 7, 2015 at 10:24 pm
Kat, is that the recording I sent you some time ago? The combination of her singing and Fred Hellerman’s guitar will always remain a benchmark for others. Fred is now the last of the original group still with us.
June 7, 2015 at 11:02 pm
Mark,
Yes, it is the recording you sent me. I was thrilled to find it in my files, my played files, but it deserved another play. She is so amazing here.
Thanks again for this song. It is a fitting tribute to her.
June 8, 2015 at 2:57 am
HI Kat, a few years ago a French hip hop band brought back The Weavers to our memories with this song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZDWNk_RIA). They are very close to old songs and I’m still wondering how they ever heard about them. Example, “Tacing with the sun” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD8QLNiolfk). I guess hip hop music is not your cup of tea but I think is’s worth a listening…
Iero
June 8, 2015 at 11:57 am
lero,
I haven’t ever heard them until you provided the links. I didn’t care for the first one as I am not a hip hop fan, and it is all hip hop, but I did like the second one. The video was really excellent, and I do like their voices when they actually sang racing with the sun in the chorus.
I did give them both a listen. Thanks!!
June 9, 2015 at 12:53 pm
What I fnd extraordinary is that these young people, who are quite a success in France, doing a lot of big festivals, made their way (among other qualities) by sampling songs which can’t be their culture. Another example with the Village Stompers’ Washington Square : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_0NHqcogac
And, by the way, I don’t agree : their cover of The Weavers is not only hip hop…
June 9, 2015 at 4:37 pm
I always find it amazing that you people sing songs wonderfully, perfectly, in languages other than their own.
That link leads to an great song with a wonderful sound. It is Washington Square and so much more. I’m thinking I have come to like this sound as different as it is!