The singer passed away from natural causes at a retirement home in San Francisco, California on Saturday (06Jun15).

Gilbert began her career as a member of the iconic music quartet, alongside PETE SEEGER, Lee Hays and Fred Hellerman, in the late 1940s and they shot to fame with the success of their 1950 cover of folk standard Goodnight, Irene.

They also scored hits with Tzena, Tzena, Tzena, On Top of Old Smoky, Kisses Sweeter than Wine and The Midnight Special and are widely credited with helping to drive the folk revival of the 1950s and '60s.

However, their left-wing tendencies landed them in trouble with authorities during the MCCarthy era, when they were blacklisted for appearing to sympathise with Communist views.

The Weavers disbanded in 1964, but later reunited for a series of reunion shows. Their final performance took place in New York in 1980, shortly before the death of Hays.

Gilbert later embarked on a solo career. Her death leaves Hellerman as the last surviving member of the original The Weavers line-up.

The stars were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2006.