The Times
Just as 1971 Cortland seniors were settling in for their last semester, music-loving students were hit with a devastating double blow as they received news of the untimely deaths of Jimi Hendrix on September 18th, 1970 and Janis Joplin on October 4th, 1970, both at the age of 27. The back-to-back losses highlighted the toll of fame, drug excesses and the reality of rock and roll fame which sometimes carried severe, self-destructive risks. Less than one year later, Jim Morrison of the Doors would join this infamous “27 Club.”
While the music industry was reeling, there was also good news. On September 9th, Elvis Presley made a monumental return to the stage for the first time since 1958. The tour featured a full orchestra, a rhythm section and two gospel backing groups with music straddling Elvis’ 1950’s hits and more contemporary music from his upcoming album. Because Elvis frequently split his pants onstage in the 1950’s, for this tour he created custom-made jumpsuits to accommodate his dynamic karate moves delivered with theatrical flair.
In one of the weirdest presidential meetings ever, on December 21st, 1970, Elvis paid a visit to President Richard M. Nixon at the White House. Elvis flew from Los Angeles to Washington DC on a red eye flight bringing with him a handwritten six-page letter composed on American Airlines stationery, requesting a visit and suggesting that he be made a “Federal Agent-At-Large” for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. At the meeting, Elvis offered to help Nixon reach young people to discourage them from using drugs. What Elvis really wanted was a special badge to add to his person collection of police badges.
In January 1971 as Cortland seniors started their final semester, they were reminded that the hippy culture wasn’t all peace and love. The conviction of Charles Manson and three of his followers of first-degree murder on January 25th, 1971 showed the darker side of the hippy movement. Across campuses nationwide, sociology and criminology students vigorously debated the psychological roots of the Manson cult, utilizing the trial to analyze mob mentality, brainwashing, and the societal conditions that allowed a fringe group to orchestrate the grisly murders.
Students’ attention was split between midterms and The Fight Of The Century featuring Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier vying for the Heavyweight Championship on March 8th, 1971. The fight went a full 15 rounds and unfolded against the backdrop of a nation being torn apart over civil rights and the Vietnam War. Although Ali was stripped of his heavyweight titles for refusing the draft, his status as an icon of the anti-war movement was firmly in place. In the 15th round, Frazier won by unanimous decision and Ali was dealt his first professional loss.
The music of 1970/1971 was a mash-up of styles and creative freedom with the introduction of several new genres, following the end of the psychedelic rock era. The introspective singer-songwriter driven by acoustic guitar and piano flourished with James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell and Carole King. UK artists Led Zeppelin, The Who and Black Sabbath replaced the blues of the British Invasion with aggressive, riff-heavy, theatrical music. Art Rock and studio experimentation shaped concept albums released by Pink Floyd and Yes. And the Jackson 5 “Jacksonmania” was deliberately modeled by Motown after Beatlemania with merchandise and a Saturday morning cartoon.
Notable Events
- Elvis Returns To The Stage – September 9th, 1970
- Elvis Presley made a monumental return to the stage for the first time since 1958 that included the release of a documentary and album based on the tour. The documentary gave a clear view of Presley’s return to live performances after years of making films
- Charles Manson And His Followers Found Guilty of Murder – January 25th, 1971
- A Los Angeles jury found Manson guilty on seven counts of first-degree murder. Manson was originally sentenced to death on March 29, 1971 but following the California Supreme Court’s decision to abolish the death penalty, his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Manson died in prison of natural causes at the age of 83 on November 19th, 2017
- The Battle Of the Century – Ali vs. Frazier – March 8th, 1971
- More than just a prize fight, Frazier won by unanimous decision and Ali was dealt his first professional loss
- Music of 1970/1971
- The rise of singer/songwriters marked a shift from the 1960’s focus on bands and political anthems to intimate, autobiographical storytelling.
Artists like James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and Cat Stevens wrote, composed and performed on acoustic guitar and piano.
o Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal bands combined volume with classical themes and studio experimentation. Led Zeppelin, Yes, Queen, The Who, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull and Emerson, Lake and Palmer all found an affinity with virtuosity and theatrical performances.
o Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin never had a #1 single because they famously refused to shorten their tracks for radio play – “Stairway To Heaven”
Yes – “I’ve Seen All Good People”- Using a chess game as a metaphor for navigating relationships
CONCERTS THAT CAME TO CORTLAND 1970/1971
Joe Walsh and the James Gang – BoG CF @ HPER – November 8th, 1970
- Joe Walsh was the frontman and guitarist for the power trio James Gang and performed on campus for Parents Weekend. The band heavily toured to support their second album, James Gang Rides Again which featured iconic tracks like “Funk #49.” Joe Walsh joined the Eagles in 1975 and his famous double-lead guitar work on Hotel California remains one of his musical signatures.
The Guess Who – Moffett Center – November 13th, 1970
- The Guess Who was a Canadian rock band formed in 1958 finding their biggest success between 1969 and 1972. Fronted by singer Burton Cummings and guitarist/principal songwriter Randy Bachman, the band played Cortland during their hit-filled prime with “American Woman, “These Eyes,” and “Share The Land.” Right before their appearance at Cortland, Randy Bachman left the band due to creative differences and fatigue. Bachman’s departure led to the formation of Bachman Turner Overdrive, a hard rocking, hit making machine that surpassed The Guess Who with hits like “Takin’ Care Of Business”
The Grateful Dead – Lusk Field House – New Riders of the Purple Sage opened– April 18th, 1971
- The Grateful Dead were a pioneering American rock band formed in the San Francisco Bay area in 1965. Fusing rock, folk, blues, jazz, and psychedelia, they became famous for their legendary, highly improvisational live shows and their devoted community of “Deadheads.” The April show at Cortland was their only appearance there, coming right in the middle of a frantic, month-long Northeast run which made the band incredibly tight.
New Riders of The Purple Sage
- Signed by Clive Davis at Columbia Records, The New Riders Of The Purple Sage, was another Northern California band often described as the “Cosmic Cowboy” band. Bridging country traditional twang with Grateful Dead-style jams, they delivered a signature, outlaw-country party sound. The band was supporting their self-titled, debut album which included “Glendale Train.” Opening for The Dead in Cortland was a big deal for the band since their first album would be released later in the year. Their biggest hit “Panama Red” would come a few years later.
Buffalo Bob Smith and Howdy Doody – April 24th, 1971
- A popular children’s puppet show from 1947 to 1960, Buffalo Bob Smith and Howdy Doody embarked on a surprise nostalgia tour of college campuses 1970 and 1971. The resulting college tour was a massive hit, drawing crowds of bearded, jean-clad students across the country. The live act cleverly blended the wholesome, nostalgic lore of the 1950s TV show with edgy, “campus-style” humor such as alluding that Clarabell the Clown might be hiding Zig-Zag rolling papers!
Michael Lorimer –– LYCEUM – Auditorium – May 3rd, 1971
- Michael Lorimer, a favorite protégé of Andrés Segovia, caught the attention of American audiences in the early 1970s by touring college campuses and was the first American guitarist to perform in the USSR in 1975. His guitar style is Baroque and Classical.