Fred Hellerman

Fred Hellerman, born in Brooklyn, New York on May 13, 1927, and educated at Brooklyn College, is an American folk singer, guitarist, producer and song writer, primarily known as one of the original members of The Weavers, together with Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Ronnie Gilbert. Fred Hellerman is also known for producing the record album Alice's Restaurant (1967) for Arlo Guthrie.

The Weavers and the McCarthy era

In 1948, Fred Hellerman formed the Weavers with Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert and Lee Hays. Hellerman wrote and co-wrote some of their hits. Because of his involvement with left-wing groups during the 1930s and 1940s, Fred Hellerman came under suspicion of Communist sympathies during the McCarthy era.

In 1950, Fred Hellerman was named, along with the rest of the Weavers, in the anti-communist tract Red Channels and was placed on the industry blacklist. The Weavers, unable to perform on television, radio, or in most music halls, broke up in 1952, and resumed singing in 1955. They continued together until 1963 (with changes in personnel). They held several reunion concerts in 1980, shortly before Lee Hays' death, which were documented in the film, Wasn't That a Time.

External links

• Extensive online biography with hyperlinks by William Ruhlmann in Allmusic
• Fred Hellerman at the Internet Movie Database