"The Greatest Peaceful Event in History ~ The Untold Story of Woodstock 1969"
by Artie Kornfeld

Woodstock 1969 was the equivalent of a nuclear explosion that catapulted the counter culture into the mainstream and for a moment closed the divide between the one dimensional aspects of society and government at the time and the underlying sentiment of the nations youth. True believers still call Woodstock the capstone of an era devoted to human advancement. Cynics say it was a fitting, ridiculous end to an era of naivete. Then there are those who say it was just a hell of a party. Woodstock was unprecedented, no other event has been such a catalyst for change in popular culture and the ideology of the nation. As we close in on the 40th anniversary of Woodstock ’69, Co-creator and Promoter, Artie Kornfeld has decided to finally share his story. He tells of the events that prepared him to promote Woodstock, of his experience of organizing the musicians for the concert, preparing them before they went onstage, and of course, his own take on what Woodstock meant to his generation and what it continues to mean for all those who appreciate what occurred during those three magical days in August 1969.

 

Artie Kornfeld in 2008

What you have been reading here on this website was probably the most meaningful discussion ever of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair from its co-creator. Every detail that made the man whose vision & experiences built the Woodstock Nation. From his humble beginnings to its ultimate successes! The only complete unabridged official version of the Woodstock Festival through the eyes of its producer & promoter Artie Kornfeld.

 

   

From its opening act, Richie Havens at 5:07 PM on August 15, 1969 through Jimi Hendrix's "Star Spangled Banner" that closed the Festival. All the Superstars of the Rock Music scene in its heyday of the late 60's performed and are included in Artie's observations, insightful commentary and the most memorable close-up pictures from the greatest photographers in the business: Henry Diltz, Lisa Law, Barry Levine, Peter Menzel, Baron Wolman, Lenny Eisenberg and Elliot Landy.

  

The Performers: Joan Baez, The Band, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Paul Butterfield, Canned Heat, Joe Cocker, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, The Grateful Dead, Arlo Guthrie, Tim Hardin, Keef Hartley, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, The Incredible String Band, The Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Country Joe McDonald, Melanie, Mountain, Quill, Santana, John Sebastian, Sha Na Na, Ravi Shankar, Sly and the Family Stone, Bert Sommer, Sweetwater, Ten Years After, The Who and Johnny Winter.

       

This Woodstock story has now taken well over 39 years to write and preview on the web... but the story doesn't end here. Artie's new book is about to be released and he is back again in the studio producing new bands. Much more to come from the 'Father of Woodstock'.

 

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