Peggy Seeger was born to Charles Seeger and Ruth Porter Crawford, both musicians with a keen interest in folk music. Along with her brothers Mike and Pete Seeger, she developed significant skills as a singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter, and released her first album in 1955.

In the late 1950’s, Peggy faced pressure from the US government for her left-wing political views, and after performing in China she went to Britain rather than return to the US to avoid having her passport revoked. While in Britain, she met and later married fellow folk singer Ewan MacColl. She would spend most of her life in the UK as a key part of the British folk revival, in particular championing the concertina accordion in that style of music.

Many of Peggy’s songs focus heavily on women’s issues, and several became anthems of what was known at the time as the women’s liberation movement. She identifies as an eco-feminist, and also as bisexual.

Her most recent album was released in 2017, at the age of 82.