LEXINGTON, Va., Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Mike Seeger, half-brother of U.S. folk troubadour Pete Seeger and a musician in his own right, died in his Lexington, Va., home of cancer. He was 75.
A six-time Grammy nominee, Mike Seeger was a major figure in preserving and perpetuating American folk music, especially the Appalachian music, the Roanoke (Va.) Times reported Monday.
Seeger, who died Friday, was diagnosed in July with multiple myeloma. After a brief round of treatments at the University of Virginia Cancer Center, he returned to his home to Lexington.
"Five days before he went into the hospital, he played a concert at Wintergreen (Resort)," said Alexia Smith, Seeger's wife of 14 years. "He wasn't feeling great, but he valiantly did it."
Seeger had a national reputation as both a folklorist and musician, the newspaper said. He sang, played at least nine instruments, produced albums and recorded numerous mountain musicians whose careers typically peaked between the two World Wars.
He also co-founded New Lost City Ramblers, a neo-traditional band that played old-time Southern music.
In addition to his wife, Seeger is survived by three sons, four stepchildren, two former wives, two sisters, two half-brothers, and 13 grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
