Fred Hellerman, member of Weavers folk group, dies at 89

WESTON, Conn. – A member of the influential folk music quartet the Weavers who went on to a lengthy career as a composer, arranger and songwriter has died. Fred Hellerman was 89.

Caleb Hellerman says his father died Thursday at his home in Weston, Connecticut, after a lengthy illness.

The Weavers were formed in 1948 by Hellerman along with Pete Seeger, Lee Hays and Ronnie Gilbert and helped popularize folk music in the United States with recordings including “Goodnight Irene.”

Hellerman was born in Brooklyn, New York, learned to play guitar while serving in the Coast Guard and teamed up with the other musicians while living in New York City’s Greenwich Village.

He later produced the record “Alice’s Restaurant” for Arlo Guthrie and worked with several artists over his long career.