Pete Seeger (b. 1919) and other folksingers formed People’s Songs, Inc., in January 1946, hoping to inspire a “singing labor movement.” The group went bankrupt after supporting the 1948 Progressive Party presidential bid of former Vice President Henry A. Wallace (1888–1965). In 1955, Seeger, once a Communist Party member, was subpoenaed by the House Committee on Un-American Activities, but refused on First Amendment grounds to answer questions “about my associations and opinions.” His contempt conviction subsequently was invalidated.