Welcome to Woodstock 1969 - 55 Years ago TODAY... August 15
It was 55 years ago today that I was hanging out with my best Friend, Butch, the Bass Player in my Rock Band (Bevo), backstage at an Event that would change my Life forever... in my wildest dreams, this could never happen to a Farm Boy from Wisconsin.
The purpose of this Series of Articles is to give my Friends a first-hand view of how this all came about from someone who was there... and to detail the Impact the Event had on the history of Classic Rock. After I cover the actual 4-day Event, I will give the details of the whole Shebang that started in Boston in January when I attended the Led Zeppelin Concert at the Boston Tea Party ... where I got wind of something interesting... that 2 ambitious Founders of "Woodstock Ventures" wanted to hold an Event in Woodstock, New York. Its purpose was to raise funds to build a Recording Studio to support the Artist Colony there.
In this initial Series, I will cover all 32 Acts with just the basics of what happened and provide Vids of their performance... I will only choose 1 Song to review at the time (with full details in a later issue). This will all be a part of my Book "The Sounds of Music".. the History of how the Musical Sounds generated by Humans evolved over time from the first Drumming by Cave Men to the through to what we call Modern Music.
Note: I want to give a Big "Thumbs UP!" to Michael Lang of Woodstock Ventures whose excellent Book "The Road to Woodstock" takes the reader through his amazing Journey... his Perseverance and Magical Vision brought together an unprecedented gathering of Musicians and Fans on Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm in Bethel, New York on August 15th for 4 Awesome Fukin' Days.
We will begin the Journey at 5:08 pm on Friday with Day 1 of 4 of the "3 (4) Days of PEACE, LOVE & MUSIC"
Rock On ♪♪♪
First, I realize that Friday is the 16th, but Festivals do not start on Thursday... we will cover August 15 - 19... plus do a Wrap of the Event next week after I get some Comments... thank you in advance... Willie
Day 1: Friday, August 15, 1969
The official overview of the planned 3-Day Event...
that became 4...
5:08 P.M. - Richie Havens...
He was supposed to be #5, but, apparently, the Helicopter Service was not worked out yet and he was the only one there. After Lang's aggressive attempt to get him to open, he finally gave in... his Set turned out to be the perfect opener (Lang's luck was working for now). His Musical Style was characterized by his distinctive and innovative approach to Guitar playing and his Soulful, Passionate Vocals.
7:10 P.M. - Sri Swami... The Festival Welcome.
7:30 P.M. - Sweetwater...
Sweetwater's Music Style, which I describe as a "More Weird" form of "Psychedelic Folk Rock," that seemed to resonate with the Crowd by capturing the essence of the 60s Counterculture Movement. Their sounds are likened to that of Jefferson Airplane, featuring a blend of Rock and Folk elements, but with a more Psychedelic Twist.
8:20 P.M. - Bert Sommer...
His Music Style is generally blended with Elements of Contemporary Folk, Pop, and Rock, with a focus on thoughtful Lyrics and Emotive Vocal Performances.
8:45 P.M. - Tim Hardin...
Tim Hardin's Musical Style was a unique blend of Folk, Blues, Jazz, and Rock influences, characterized by his Soulful and Emotive Vocals. His compositions were marked by their Poetic Lyrics, simple yet powerful Melodies, and a Raw, Vulnerable quality that resonated with listeners. His Piano-based approach distinguishes his Voice... described as soft and sweet with the ability to convey a wide range of Emotions.
10:00 P.M. - Ravi Shakur...
Shankur's Musical Style was characterized by its Emotional depth, Technical brilliance, and ability to Bridge Eastern and Western Musical Styles. He popularized performing on the Bass Octave of the Sitar for the Alap section... He was instrumental in bringing Indian Classical Music to Global Audiences, influencing one George Harrison's Solo Styles.
10:50 P.M. - Melanie...
Melanie Safka's Musical Style was a unique blend of Folk, Pop, and Rock influences, characterized by her distinctive Raspy yet Sweet Vocal Timbre. Her Music featured simple yet powerful melodies, often accompanied by acoustic guitar, that served as a canvas for her emotive and sometimes childlike vocals. Her ability to convey raw emotion through her voice, coupled with her eclectic Songwriting, set her apart from her contemporaries and earned her comparisons to Artists like Edith Piaf and Billie Holiday, though she developed a Sound uniquely her own.
11:55 P.M. - Arlo Guthrie...
Arlo's Musical Style is a unique blend of Folk, Rock, and Americana's Story... it is characterized by his Storytelling prowess and wry sense of Humor. His approach to Songwriting often involves long, narrative-driven Pieces that combine Spoken Words and Musical Elements. His Guitar playing is rooted in Folk Traditions, featuring both Fingerpicking and Strumming Techniques that complement his distinctive Vocals. His Voice, while not traditionally Powerful, has a Warm, Conversational quality that enhances his Storytelling ability.
12:55 A.M. - Joan Baez Saturday, August 16, 1969...
Joan's Musical Style is characterized by her clear, vibrato-rich soprano Voice and her skillful fingerstyle Guitar playing. Her approach to Folk Music emphasizes Clarity and Elegance, with a focus on delivering powerful, emotive Performances. Baez's repertoire spans traditional Folk Ballads, Protest Songs, and Contemporary Compositions, often featuring Socially Conscious Lyrics. Her Guitar work, while not Flashy, is Precise and Effective, providing a solid Foundation for her Vocals. Baez is known for her ability to create a full, complete Sound with just her Voice and Guitar, requiring no additional effects.
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Note: This in the END of Day #1 of the Festival... I will publish Day #2 on Saturday...
For those interested in reading my post today at 5:08 PM about Woodstock '69, I invite you to check it out!
If you are genuinely interested in my perspective on the Event, please hit the "Like" button to let me know. I will then send you the link to the post. This is not a requirement; it is solely for friends of William W. Nelson who are truly curious about:
How I got to Woodstock
What I experienced while I was there
My personal feelings about the Festival and its significance in the evolution of Rock Music
Below is a list of key paradigm shifts that occurred before Woodstock, which contributed to the evolution of Rock 'n' Roll and the numerous Spin-offs influenced by certain Musicians and Bands Sounds:
Ike Turner's "Rocket 88" (1951) is often considered one of the first rock songs.
Chuck Berry and his Contemporaries who are recognized as the modern "Fathers of Rock Music" in the early '50s.
Elvis Presley – His Blues Rock Sounds captivated a massive following and established him as a Cultural Icon.
The "British Invasion" – Sparked by The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964, attracting 73 million viewers for the first performance... and only 70 million for the next.
The evolution of the Electric Guitar – Innovations in Guitar technology allowed Musicians to explore new Sounds and Styles.
Woodstock '69 – The Festival marked a significant increase in new Artists aiming for success, with a notable shift in Music Styles from Pop to a Fusion of Blues and jazz beginning in about 1963. By 1969, numerous Bands were at the forefront, and by 1970, the list of Rock Bands and their Spin-offs reached 100.
The impact of Woodstock '69 on this growth is debatable, but I strongly believe it ignited a powerful movement in Rock Music, which we will discuss further in my "Inner Circle" soon.
To that end, if you want to get involved with Members of our Community who want to learn about the intricacies of how things evolved and "Have a Say" about it... then start by joining me and make Comments on My Take, especially if some of you were there... Rock On ♪♪♪