| |
N0KFQ > TODAY 15.08.13 17:18l 59 Lines 2722 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 3140_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Aug 15
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<JH4XSY<JE7YGF<N9PMO<N9PMO<W4JML<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 130815/1436Z 3140@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.55
Aug 15, 1969:
The Woodstock festival opens in Bethel, New York
On this day in 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival opens on a
patch of farmland in White Lake, a hamlet in the upstate New York
town of Bethel.
Promoters John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield and
Michael Lang originally envisioned the festival as a way to raise
funds to build a recording studio and rock-and-roll retreat near
the town of Woodstock, New York. The longtime artists' colony was
already a home base for Bob Dylan and other musicians. Despite
their relative inexperience, the young promoters managed to sign
a roster of top acts, including the Jefferson Airplane, the Who,
the Grateful Dead, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Jimi
Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more. Plans for
the festival were on the verge of foundering, however, after both
Woodstock and the nearby town of Wallkill denied permission to
hold the event. Dairy farmer Max Yasgur came to the rescue at the
last minute, giving the promoters access to his 600 acres of land
in Bethel, some 50 miles from Woodstock.
Early estimates of attendance increased from 50,000 to around
200,000, but by the time the gates opened on Friday, August 15,
more than 400,000 people were clamoring to get in. Those without
tickets simply walked through gaps in the fences, and the
organizers were eventually forced to make the event free of
charge. Folk singer and guitarist Richie Havens kicked off the
event with a long set, and Joan Baez and Arlo Guthrie also
performed on Friday night.
Somewhat improbably, the chaotic gathering of half a million
young "hippies" lived up to its billing of "Three Days of Peace
and Music." There were surprisingly few incidents of violence on
the overcrowded grounds, and a number of musicians performed
songs expressing their opposition to the Vietnam War. Among the
many great moments at the Woodstock Music Festival were
career-making performances by up-and-coming acts like Santana,
Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; the Who's
early-morning set featuring songs from their classic rock opera
"Tommy"; and the closing set by Hendrix, which climaxed with an
improvised solo guitar performance of "The Star Spangled Banner."
Though Woodstock had left its promoters nearly bankrupt, their
ownership of the film and recording rights more than compensated
for the losses after the release of a hit documentary film in
1970. Later music festivals inspired by Woodstock's success
failed to live up to its standard, and the festival still stands
for many as a example of America's 1960s youth counterculture at
its best.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 2.7.0 c21
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
