Ronnie Gilbert | Folk singer, 88

Singer Ronnie Gilbert, 88, a member of the influential 1950s folk quartet the Weavers, died of natural causes Saturday at a California retirement community, said her longtime partner, Donna Korones.

With the Weavers, whose other members were Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, and Fred Hellerman, Ms. Gilbert helped spark a national folk revival by churning out hit recordings of "Goodnight Irene," "Tzena Tzena Tzena," "On Top of Old Smokey," "If I Had A Hammer," "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine," and "Wimoweh."

The group was hugely popular before its left-wing activities were targeted by anti-Communists during the McCarthy era. They were blacklisted, unable to record, appear on television or radio, or perform in many concert venues, and eventually disbanded.

- AP