Reproduced from the book "Best Musicians, Singers, Albums and Entertainment Personalities of the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries", Volume V of World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment.
Photo:
Woodstock.
The world 3 biggest musical festivals/concerts of all time: 1-The 1967 Monterey Pop Festival organized by Michelle Phillips and John Phillips, 2-the 1969 Woodstock, the 2005 Live 8 Concert.
Facts about Woodstock: Ticket price: $24.00. 9 miles of bumper to bumper traffic on the main road leading to the gate of the festival. Local police estimated a million people were on the road trying to get to Woodstock. 410,000 people attended the concert, while additional 255,000 did not make it to the show. Only 186,000 tickets were sold. 1,300 pounds of food catered in by 4 helicopters. 520,000 hot dogs and hamburgers were sold on the first day, at a cost of $1 per hot dog, mescaline and acid: $4. Thirty five people were arrested on various drug charges. Two deaths – a teenager was killed by a tractor as he lay in his sleeping bag and another died from a drugs overdose. Two births. 20 doctors and 38 nurses treated 6,000 patients. Many high on marijuana, some dancing naked. Major performers: Janis Joplin, The Who, Grateful Dead, Canned Heat, Crosby-Stills-Nash & Young, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez and Ravi Shankar. The main organiser, farmer Max Yusgur, provided $50,000 and 600 acres of his land.
The Most Significant Musical Event and Musical Group of the Sixties
Monterey Pop Festival and the legendary “The Mamas & The Papas”
Photo: The Mamas and The
Papas.
In 1966, they bursted softer and stronger than cosmic rays over the landscape of bohemian, hippies, hedonistic, beautiful canvas of American music. They influenced a whole era. And they brought hope, joy and beautiful lyrics and music to a turbulent world. They were The Mamas & The Papas: John Phillips the genius, the stunning and creative Michelle Phillips, the unforgettable Mama Cass and Denny Doherty; one of the world’s most beloved and admired vocal groups. Yes, they were hippies, but they had warmth, depth, substance, honesty and that “un je ne sais quoi” wonderful and magnetizing stage presence. At that time in history, they were the musical voice of America. Today, after 40 years, millions and millions around the globe are still listening to their records and remembering their great hits; songs like “I Call Your Name”, “All the Leaves Are Brown”, “California Dreamin”, “If You Can Believe Your Ears and Eyes”, “Go Where You Wanna Go”. Michelle Phillips and John Phillips remain two of the mightiest pillars of American music. And the whole world of showbiz and entertainment still remembers their June 16, 17 and 18, 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, the precursor to Woodstock; unquestionably the most formidable, creative, daring, colorful, explosive (talent wise), peaceful and significant musical event of all time. Over 200,000 people attended.