The Times
The Fall semester of 1969 at Cortland began with a strange dichotomy of history playing out all at the same time. Richard Nixon was in the White House, the Vietnam War was still raging, we put a man on the moon and half a million young people gathered in upstate New York for a music festival like no other.
On July 20th, 1969, Commander Neil Armstrong emerged from the Apollo 11 lunar module and took the first steps by a human on the surface of the moon exclaiming “that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Watched live by millions all over the world, the mission not only fulfilled President Kennedy’s goal of landing a man on the moon, but it also demonstrated American technology superiority in the international Space Race.
Drawing almost 500,000 young people, The Woodstock Festival & Art Fair from August 15-18, 1969, was a truly harmonious weekend and took everyone’s mind off the scary world. Held at Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, NY, it is safe to say that Cortland students attended the festival before returning to classes as it was less than 2 hours from campus. Starting with Richie Havens and ending with Jimi Hendrix, the concert showcased 32 musical performers and featured iconic performances by The Who, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Arlo Guthrie, Sha Na Na, Joan Baez, John Sebastian, Country Joe and the Fish, The Grateful Dead, Ten Years After, The Band, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin with Big Brother and The Holding Company and the introduction of a new band, Crosby, Still and Nash, who were famously “scared shitless!”
A few months later, on December 6, 1969, hoping for a “Woodstock West,” the Rolling Stones and The Grateful Dead organized and headlined the Altamont Free Concert. Thinking it would be a day like the vibe of Woodstock, the band hired the San Francisco chapter of the Hells Angels as security guards, paying them $500 in free beer. As 300,000 people descended on the site with no resources, the Angels got drunker through the night. The concert proved to be a disaster with Marty Balin of the Jefferson Airplane being knocked out and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones being punched. It also culminating with the death of four concertgoers and many injuries. The chaos and mayhem were included in the Rolling Stones 1970s documentary “Gimme Shelter.”
The campus was abuzz the entire Spring semester in 1970 when the news broke on April 10th, that the Beatles had broken up. Paul McCartney was promoting the release of his first solo album after John Lennon had released “Instant Karma” in February and said that he no longer planned to record with the Beatles. The press misinterpreted this to mean it was the end of the band. With that, the world reacted with sadness and disbelief. Paul actually wanted the band to continue and years after John died, Paul was finally able to report that John really ended the Beatles at that time. Ironically, Abby Road’s “The End” was the last song recorded by all four Beatles and released in mid 1969 with the prophetic words “And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make.”
As seniors were a few weeks from graduation, there were major anti-war demonstrations happening at colleges across the country. At Kent State in Ohio, after several days of intense protests, the National Guardsmen were called in to suppress the rioting. By noon on May 4th, 1970, armed with tear gas and bayonets fixed to their rifles, the National Guard ordered the crowds to disperse. Minutes later, without firing a warning shot, sixty rounds were discharged toward the students, killing four and wounding nine. The next day, on May 5th, the Cortland House of Delegates endorsed a student strike, and 3,000 students gathered to protest between Old Main and Miller outraged by the horrific news. As a result, Cortland students and faculty met in the Old Main auditorium after which the students left and proceeded to occupy The Miller Building chaining the doors shut. These types of demonstrations were happening all over the country. Photographs of the Kent State massacre along with Neil Young’s song “Ohio,” created the enduring images and sounds of the anti-war movement.
Notable Events
- Neil Armstrong’s Walk On The Moon – July 20, 1969 – Apollo 11
- Landing in the Sea of Tranquility, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins flew Apollo 11 to the moon and on July 20th, 1969, Commander Neil Armstrong emerged from the lunar module to be the first human to walk on the moon.
- The Woodstock Festival – 3 Days of Peace and Music – August 15-18, 1969
From August 15th through August 18th, 500,000 people gathered for three days of peace and music. The concert location moved 3 times at the last minute before settling on Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, NY. The promoters used local radio stations to get the massive crowds to the right location!
- Altamont Free Concert – December 6, 1969
- Named “Woodstock West,” and put together by the Rolling Stones, the concert turned violent and deadly after the Stones hired the San Franciso branch of the Hells Angels as security guards.
- Kent State Massacre – May 4th, 1970
- By noon on May 4th, 1970, armed with tear gas and bayonets fixed to their rifles, the National Guard ordered the student demonstrators to disperse. Minutes later, without firing a warning shot, sixty rounds were discharged toward the students, killing four and wounding nine.
CONCERTS THAT CAME TO CORTLAND 1969/1970
Don McLean – 10/15-18/69 – HPER
Singer songwriter Don McLean played at Corey Union’s Drag-In at the Fireplace Lounge for Homecoming Weekend in October 1969. Although initially influenced by Frank Sinatra and Buddy Holly, Don became more interested in folk music thanks to The Weavers, who were the top folk quartet in the 1950s and 1960s. Don McLean’s performance at Cortland supported his 1969 debut album called “Tapestry,” and the title track’s imagery and themes inspired the creation of Greenpeace, the environmental action group. Don McLean would write his iconic song “American Pie” two years after this show!
Songs:
“Castles In the Sand”
“And I Love You So”
Buddy Rich Orchestra – 10/18/69 – Corey Function Room
Considered one of the most influential jazz drummers of all time, Buddy Rich performed during Homecoming Weekend in 1969. Known for the band’s intricate arrangements, often pushing the boundaries of traditional big band music, Buddy Rich’s drumming was powerful, modern and innovative. His influence crossed many musical genres and his impact on rock drummers is undeniable including John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Roger Taylor of Queen, Max Weinberg of the E Street Band and Phil Collins.
Al Kooper and Classics IV (with Dennis Yost ) – 12/7/1969 – HPER
A prolific songwriter, record producer and musician, by the time he performed at Cortland, Al Kooper had just left Blood, Sweat and Tears, which he founded, played the organ on Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone,” and French horn and piano on The Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” His show at the HPER was to support his album called Kooper Session, consisting of gospel and blues tracks.
Originally called The Classics, this Detroit based band was formed in 1965 and added the IV when a New York band with the same name complained. The IV was deliberate because there were four members. Dennis Yost was the lead singer as well as the drummer who played standing up. They recorded their major Top 40 hits, “Spooky,” “Stormy,” and “Traces” in 1967 and by 1969, the band again changed their name to Dennis Yost and the Classics IV, as he was the only original member left.
Songs:
“Spooky”
“Stormy”
“Traces”
The Association – 2/27/70 – Lusk Field House
The very first concert at Lusk Field House, The Association, was a huge show for Winter Weekend with more than 3,000 in attendance. Dubbed a “sunshine pop” band from Los Angeles, the band had several hits in the mid-1960s featuring 6-8 members with multiple singers who performed intricate vocal harmonies. Currently still performing, they have featured and rotated thirty-four different singers since their start in 1965.
Songs: “Along Comes Mary”
“Cherish”
“Never My Love”