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Weavers Founder Hellerman Dies
Fred Hellerman, 89, guitarist, vocalist and founding member of the Weavers, died at his home in Weston, Conn., Sept. 1.
Photo: Richard Drew/AP, file
Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman – 25th Anniv. reunion concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.
He was the last surviving member of the original lineup. His son Caleb Hellerman said his father suffered from heart, lung and other ailments, the Washington Post reported.
The Weavers folk quartet is known for songs such as “Goodnight, Irene” and “On Top of Old Smokey.”
Hellerman later worked as a songwriter and producer and played guitar on Joan Baez’s debut album. His last composition, “Fourths of July,” premiered in June performed by the New York Jazzharmonic.