Folk legend and activist Peggy Seeger has built a remarkable career spanning seven decades. With over 20 albums and a vast collection of songs like I’m Gonna Be an Engineer and The Ballad of Springhill, she remains a cherished figure in North American folk music. Her latest album, Teleology, released earlier this month, is said to be her final work—a fitting capstone to her influential legacy.
In a recent interview, Seeger shared a memorable story about meeting a young Bob Dylan, then known as Robert Zimmerman. Given her brother Pete Seeger’s significant role in Dylan’s early career, their paths naturally crossed.
“I met Bob Dylan when he was Robert Zimmerman, a student,” Seeger recalled. “I remember him clearly because the event organizer said, ‘You know that little fellow who followed you around with his briefcase? He’s Bob Dylan.’ At that moment, I asked, ‘Who’s Bob Dylan?’ But more power to him. Like me, he doesn’t have what you’d call a ‘good’ voice, but he’s got a character voice. He created the persona Bob Dylan out of Robert Zimmerman. It makes me wonder if I created myself, too, because now I’m more of an entertainer than I was back in 1962 when I was just a folk singer. I do jokes and monologues—things I never would’ve done then.”
Seeger also reflected on her guitar skills, humbly stating, “I never mastered the guitar—my sons are better players than I am—but folk music didn’t demand much from me. I took pride in learning songs and being a guitar accompanist rather than a soloist.”
Her distinctive guitar accompaniments—ranging from Carter Family-style strumming to Spanish fingerpicking and drone-bass techniques—have become a hallmark of her artistry. These methods are even featured in a two-hour instructional DVD titled Peggy Seeger Teaches Guitar Accompaniment.
“I started playing with my father, the renowned folklorist Charles Seeger, when I was about seven or eight. My main advice is to learn something really well before performing it for others. Don’t worry about being perfect, just enjoy the sound of this wonderful instrument. After you master normal tuning, try open tuning,” she advised.
Meanwhile, Bob Dylan’s influence continues in popular culture. The acclaimed biopic A Complete Unknown saw Gibson collaborate with the filmmakers, supplying actors—including Timothée Chalamet as Dylan—with authentic Gibson guitars that capture the iconic tones of Dylan’s early career.
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