Pete Seeger, US folk singer, dies age 94 Pete Seeger, the singer who spent his life championing folk music as a catalyst for social change, has died of natural causes in New York Presbyterian Hospital. "He was chopping wood 10 days ago," said his grandson, Kitama Cahill Jackson, who confirmed his death last night. He performed with the great minstrel Woody Guthrie in his younger days and marched with Occupy Wall Street protesters in his Nineties, leaning on two canes. His hits include If I Had a Hammer, Turn, Turn, Turn, Where Have All the Flowers Gone and Kisses Sweeter Than Wine. Most importantly, Seeger was a greatly admired figure among the musicians and fans of the folk revival of the late Fifties. His career spanned eight decades and he first became famous as a member of The Weavers quartet, formed in 1948. Their first hit, Goodnight Irene, held the No.1 slot on the US charts for 13 weeks. Seeger was also closely identified with the Sixties civil rights movement and was an enduring icon of the folk community. His music has influenced generations of artists, including Bob Dylan, Don McLean and Bruce Springsteen. PETE SEEGER: 10 great songs Although he recorded more than 100 albums, Seeger distrusted commercialism and was never comfortable with the idea of stardom. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and performed at a concert marking Barack Obama's presidential inauguration in January 2009. Tom Morello, known for his years with political rock act Rage Against The Machine, said he was "absolutely the best that humans can aspire to be - a courageous, kind, fearless soul." His wife, Toshi, whom he married in 1943, died in 2013. His survivors include son Danny and daughters Mika and Tinya Seeger-Jackson.