Cortland IPad Events and Music Listing – Alumni Weekend
Graduating Class of 1979
The Times
1979 seniors returned for their final year at Cortland after the first “test tube baby”, Louise Brown was born in Northern England, the world of rock and roll lost drummer Keith Moon of the Who, the college-based frat house comedy Animal House became the most successful comedy movie, and two new sitcoms debuted – WKRP In Cincinnati and Taxi.
It also proved to be a sober time in the world. President Jimmy Carter held secret meetings for 13 days with Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David, known as the Camp David Accords. After several attempts to get these sworn enemies to agree to peace, the Accords were eventually signed on March 26, 1979 at the White House. Sadat and Begin each received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.
In November, the nation watched in horror as the evening news covered the “mass murder suicide” of 914 members of the People’s Temple led by cult leader, Jim Jones. Members were so enthralled by Jones’ conspiracy theories that they moved to Guyana, South America, insolated themselves in a compound and synchronized their watches to chug a fruit flavored drink laced with cyanide. The popular phrase “drinking the Kool-Aid” referring to a person who believes in a dangerous idea because of perceived high rewards, can be traced back to Jonestown.
In February of 1979, the Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran after 15 years in exile and condemned Iran’s Western style government. Upon Khomeini’s return, the current Shah and his family were forced into exile securing the Ayatollah Khomeini as leader of the Iranian Revolution. Later that year, Iranian women were denied equal rights and required to wear a hijab, Western culture was banned, and traditional Sharia Law was strictly enforced. By the end of the year, 52 American diplomats would be kidnapped and held hostage for 444 days.
1979 launched an abundance of new music genres born from the angst of harsh inner-city life around the world. New Wave, Ska, Hip Hop, Reggae, Punk and Electronic music were on the charts and played in the clubs from Blondie, Talking Heads, Bob Marley, The Police, Elvis Costello, The Specials and Joy Division.
Rock fans put the final nail in the coffin of Disco with “Disco Demolition Night.” A Chicago Shock Jock from rock station WLUP (The Loop), created an extreme radio promotion at Comiskey Park asking listeners to bring their disco records to the White Sox double header. 55,000 willing fans showed up to watch the explosion of a huge pile of their disco albums while chanting “Disco Sucks!” The resulting bonfire destroyed Comiskey’s mid-field and the crowds were dispersed by cops in riot gear. As was said years later: “Disco Demolition Night” stands in infamy as one of the most ill-advised promotions of all time, but arguably one of the most successful in radio history.”
Notable Events (right click on the links below to access media)
- The Camp David Accords – September 5-17, 1978, Camp David – Frederick County, MD
- Jonestown Mass Murder Suicide – November 18, 1978, Guyana, South America
- Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran and the Islamic Revolution is born – Feb 1, 1979, Tehran, Iran
CONCERTS THAT CAME TO CORTLAND 1978/1979
(Daryl) HALL and (John) OATES – City Boy opened
Darryl Hall and John Oates, played Cortland in September of 1978 supporting their 7th Album “Along The Red Ledge.” Although Hall and Oates met in the mid-‘60’s while attending Temple University and shared a love of music and an apartment, they didn’t formerly become a duo until 1970. Deemed the most successful duo in music history, they have been around for more than 50 years, sold over 80 million units and describe their music as Rock & Soul with tight melodic harmonies and Rhythm and Blues. Oh, and don’t call them “Hall and Oates”… they really hate that! If you look at their albums, it’s always been Daryl Hall and John Oates!
Songs played in concert in 1978
“It’s A Laugh”
“Melody For A Memory”
“I Don’t Wanna Lose You”
“Rich Girl”
“She’s Gone”
“Sara Smile”
CITY BOY (opened for Daryl Hall and John Oates)
Created in Birmingham, England, these sons of working-class folk, had a sophisticated rock sound with strong melodies, complex vocal arrangements and heavy guitars in the vein of 10CC and ELO. Their 1979 tour opening for Hall and Oates, with a stop at Cortland in September, would be their last as just 2 months later, the original members left the band.
Songs played in concert in 1978
“5.7.0.5”
“What A Night”
DEAN FRIEDMAN
Known as a multi-instrumentalist and a singer-songwriter, Dean Friedman toured Cortland with his one and only hit song “Ariel.” The song stirred a little controversy with his record company. The original lyrics “She was a Jewish girl, I fell in love with her” were changed to “Her name was Ariel, I fell in love with her” because it was feared that radio stations in the South wouldn’t play a song with the word “Jewish” in it.
Songs played in concert in 1978
“Ariel”
“Lucky Stars”
“Lydia”
HERMAN’S HERMITS
Formed in 1963 in Manchester, England, Herman’s Hermits was fronted by 15-year-old Peter Noone. The band brought the nostalgia of the original British Invasion to Cortland’s Corey Function Room just before Christmas break in 1978. Although Peter Noone officially left the band in 1971, the remaining Herman’s Hermits played their 1960’s pop songs to a willing audience in 1978.
Songs played in concert in 1978
“I’m Henry, the VIII”
“Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter”
“Dandy”
“I’m Into Something Good”
“No Milk Today”
“A Must To Avoid”
“Listen People”
“Leaning On A Lamppost”
TODD HOBIN BAND
Always a Cortland State favorite, The Todd Hobin Band played on campus more than most. Formed in Syracuse in 1974, The Todd Hobin Band was a mainstay at college campuses in upstate New York. Todd’s performance at Cortland supported his very first self-titled album and his first tour and he continued touring 300 days a year for the next 6 years! 50 years later, Todd is still entrenched in the music industry as a singer, songwriter, producer and studio musician as well as a professor and lecturer on the business of music.
Songs played in concert in 1979
“New York Country Song”
“I Hate You”
“Rock My Soul”
ROBIN AND LINDA WILLIAMS
A husband-and-wife folk duo from Virginia, Robin and Linda Williams brought their bluegrass, folk and acoustic country music to campus. Their lush Appalachian harmonies caught the ear of Garrison Keillor and by 1979, they had already been a mainstay on the popular NPR show, “Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion,” a show they performed on for 40 years. In their 5-decade career, their songs were also covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris.
MARK RUST
An upstate college campus regular, Mark Rust graduated from Cornell and began his music career in Ithaca. A prolific songwriter of over 200 songs, he’s been called one of the Northeast’s great undiscovered songwriters. He has performed with Peter, Paul and Mary and recorded songs with Tom Chapin and Peter Yarrow. Still touring, Mark plays guitar, piano, banjo, fiddle and mountain and hammer dulcimer and has been known to teach his audience how to play the spoons!