The Times
As 1966 graduates were packing to return to Cortland for their senior year, a sonic boom hit the world of music for Bob Dylan because the country’s acoustic folk hero went ELECTRIC at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25, 1965. Backed by Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band, the audience reaction was mixed between folk purists and rockers. Dylan performed electrified versions of “Maggie’s Farm” followed by “Like A Rolling Stone” and marked a musical transition, legitimizing folk-rock as a genre.
Today, 1966 graduates are currently benefiting from the nation’s Medicare program. They can thank President Lyndon B. Johnson who signed the bill into law on July 30th, 1965. Former President Harry Truman was present at the ceremony and enrolled as Medicare’s first beneficiary. And just a few weeks later, on August 6, 1965, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law guaranteeing African Americans the right to vote.
On November 9th, 1965 at 5:27pm, Cortland students were plunged into total darkness due to the Great Northeast Blackout affecting 25 million people across 9 states in the US and Canada. For 13 hours, the Cortland campus halted all activities with no power to the dorms throughout a cold autumn night. Students relied on candles, flashlights and transistor radios as students held their own dorm-style hootenannies!
In January 1966, as seniors arrived for their final semester, the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada experienced a blizzard, from January 29 to February 1st, often referred to as the “Blizzard of ’66”. The Syracuse/Cortland area received a record snowfall of 42.3 inches.
And on the West Coast, the Haight-Asbury district in San Francisco opened its first “head shop” called “The Psychedelic Shop” on January 3rd. As a lead-up to 1967’s formal “Summer of Love,” brothers Ron and Jay Thelin, inspired by Timothy Leary aimed to create a community hub for the growing counterculture movement. The store sold items such as Indian paisley fabrics, books, records, incense, posters, and drug paraphernalia including pipes and roach clips.
On March 4th, 1966, John Lennon sparked his first controversy in America claiming that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. This led to Beatles bonfires where fans mainly in the South burned Beatles records and memorabilia.
As seniors were getting ready for their graduation commencement on June 5th, 1966, a few weeks prior, on May 28th, Fidel Castro declared martial law citing a potential attack from the United States continuing the Cold War tensions. Seniors were deeply worried about this new escalation as the current draft started closing loopholes that had previously protected them from fighting in the Vietnam War.
The music of 1965/1966 brought about a seismic shift from folk and pop to soul, folk-rock, and experimental rock. This was also a time of real change for the Beatles as they went from light pop songs on Help! to studio experimentation and album artistry with the release of Rubber Soul. The Beach Boys and The Byrds released sonic experiments featuring psychedelic-themed songs like “Good Vibrations” and “Eight Miles High.” The British Invasion was at its peak with The Rolling Stones, Petula Clark, The Kinks, The Animals and The Who. Carnaby Street in “Swinging London” was at the epicenter of fashion for youth culture. This was also a peak time for Motown-driven hits from The Supremes, Four Tops, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder.
Notable Events
- Bob Dylan Going Electric – July 25th, 1965, Newport Folk Festival
A landmark, controversial moment when Bob Dylan abandoned pure acoustic folk for rock ‘n’ roll. Backed by an amplified band, Dylan played a Fender Stratocaster, causing many in the traditionalist crowd to boo, fundamentally altering the trajectory of popular music.
- The Blackout of 1965 – November 9th, 1965
- On November 9th, 1965 at 5:27pm, SUNY Cortland’s campus was plunged into total darkness due to the Great Northeast Blackout affecting 25 million people across 9 states in the US and Canada
- John Lennon Says “Beatles Are More Popular Than Jesus” – January 3rd, 1966
- John Lennon sparks the Beatles’ first controversy with his comment about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus. This led to Beatles bonfires across the country where fans mainly in the South burned Beatles records and memorabilia.
- Music of 1965/1966
- The Beach Boys release Pet Sounds, written and produced by Brian Wilson exploring a psychedelic concept album featuring “Good Vibrations” – Pet Sounds release date – May 16, 1966
- Petula Clark – “It’s A Sign Of The Times” – Released January 15th, 1966
After her hit “Downtown” in 1965, Petula Clark was on a chart-topping roll with 15 consecutive Top 40 hits. This is one of them!
- The Temptations – “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” – released May 3rd, 1966
The group recorded the song 3 times after Berry Gordy said it wasn’t ready. The producer pushed lead singer David Ruffin to sing higher than his vocal range, pushing him to strain his vocals which made him sweat causing his glasses to slide all over his face during recording
CONCERTS THAT CAME TO CORTLAND 1965/1966
Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton – HPER Moffett Gym – October 8th, 1965
- Folksinger Phil Ochs performed at a hootenanny and folk concert with Tom Paxton opening. The concert was part of the college’s Lyceum Series. That year Phil Ochs released his highly influential second studio album, I Ain’t Marching Any More. A staunch anti-war activist, this was one of Ochs’most memorable protest songs
- “I Ain’t Marching Any More”
Judy Collins – HPER Moffett Gym – December 3rd, 1965
- Judy Collins performed on campus headlining a diverse folk bill that also featured The Modern Folk Quartet and The Irish Ramblers. The show was organized by the student-led Circulating Fund Committee (CFC). Collins was supporting her new album called “Fifth Album” featuring a collection of traditional ballads and singer-songwriter material from Bob Dylan, Richard Fariña, Phil Ochs and Malvina Reynolds
- “Turn Turn Turn”
Simon and Garfunkel – BoG CF @HPER – March 11, 1966
- In 1966, Simon & Garfunkel embarked on an extensive North American college tour that included SUNY Cortland. The duo released their second studio album, Sounds of Silence, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The album featured the title track and hits like “I Am a Rock” and “Homeward Bound”
- “Sounds of Silence”
The Lettermen – Spring Weekend Concert – BofG CF @ HPER – April 30th, 1966
- In 1966, the popular vocal harmony trio The Lettermen (Tony Butala, Jim Pike, and Bobby Engemann) was at the peak of their success. Known for their tight, romantic close-harmony style, they released several hit albums and maintained a massive touring schedule across US colleges
- “Theme From A Summer Place”