Co-creator and sole promoter of Woodstock 1969, Artie Kornfeld was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1942. The man who would later be deemed “The Father of Woodstock” would go on to become one of the most respected composers, publishers, producers, managers, and promoters in the history of rock and roll.
Kornfeld is the son of a New York City policeman and his wife (Irving & Shirley). Brought up in the early 50s in Levittown, New York, Kornfeld’s family constantly moved and he attended six different schools, learning the lessons of the world through the song lyrics played over the radio. Artie Kornfeld would soon live his American dream and become the guiding force to what is now known as “The Woodstock Generation”.
Kornfeld got his first guitar in 1956 and learned a few chords that were pretty much universal at the time. He soon found himself with a record deal and on stage with Dion and the Belmonts with The Skyliners singing backup. Kornfeld would further his music career by attending Adelphi College and American University where he met Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas.
After a few more fortuitous music connections, Kornfeld began his enterprise of writing the most Cashbox top 100 of any song writer. Kornfeld became the vice president of Capitol Records in his early 20s, making him the youngest to hold the position and the first vice president of rock and roll ever. By 1966, Kornfeld had written over 75 Billboard charted songs and participated in over 150 albums. In 1969, Kornfeld left Capitol records to co-create The Woodstock Music & Arts Festival.
Artists, Songs and Facts
The Angels, “I Adore Him”, Top 10 Billboard The Bangles, “How Is The Air Up There”, # 1 in 7 countries Bert Sommer, “We’re All Playing In The Same Band”, Top 40 single and producer of his 3 LP albums Oscar Benton & Artie Kaplan, “Bensonhurst Blues”, # 1 in Europe 3 times, Alain Delon Movie “The Skin of a Cop” Jerry Butler & Betty Everett, “We Need Each Other”, Top 10 Album Duet Freddie Cannon, “Lookin For Fun”, Billboard top 60 Changing Times, “The Pied Piper”, Writer & Producer, Top 50 Single – USA Cher, “The Pied Piper”, Top 5 Album Crispian St.Peters, “The Pied Piper”, Top 3 Worldwide The Cowsills, “The Rain,The Park & Other Things”, (aka “I Love The Flower Girl”), Producer and # 1 Worldwide The Cowsills, Album written & Produced A.Kornfeld, Platinum Single, Gold Album The Cowsills, “We Can Fly”, Top 10 Single Al Hirt, “We Can Fly – Up Up & Away” Medley, #1Jazz Single Worldwide, #1 Adult single Billboard Johnny Crawford, “Judy Loves Me”, written & produced with Jan Berry, Top 40 Billboard Connie Francis, “Turn Another Page”, Top 40 Billboard Gene Pitney, “Turn Another Page”, Top 60 Billboard The Hullabaloos, “Did You Ever”, Top 5 Europe, Top 60 USA Jan & Dean, “Dead Mans Curve”, Written with Brian Wilson & Jan Berry, #1 USA, Top 10 –Aust/NZ/Europe Jan & Dean, “Little Old Lady From Pasadena” LP, co-writer of all except title song, Top 10 Album Worldwide Jay Black & The Americans, “She Doesn’t Know It”, B side hit single, “I hear Trumpets Blow”, Come A Little Bit Closer LP (Top 10) Wayne Newton, “If I Only Had A Song To Sing”, Top 60 Billboard Pop & Country Tony Orlando, “She Doesn’t Know It”, Last solo single before “Tony Orlando & Dawn” Gary Lewis & The Playboys, “When The Parties Over”, Top 40 Single The Tokens, Three Songs on the album “Come A Little Bit Closer”, Top 10 Album Worldwide Reparperata & The Delrons, “And The Music Went On & On”, “How Can You Tell”, charted in Billboard Minnie Ripperton & The Rotary Connection, “Aladdin”, Top 50 in Billboard, opened the door that led to the hit “Loving You” Crispian St. Peter, “Aladdin” (follow up to #1 Pied Piper), Top 10 Europe The Shirelles, “Tonight You’re Gonna Fall in Love With Me”, Top 20 Pop Billboard, Top 5 R&B Dusty Springfield, “Guess Who”, Top 40 USA, Top 20 Europe Bobby Hebb, “Some Kind of Magic” Follow-up to #1 “Sunny”, Top 40 Billboard Woody Allen, “Chicken Of The Sea”, only time Woody Allen ever sang on a record!
Michael Lang,
Woodstock
After he moved to Woodstock, NY and met Artie Kornfeld in New York, the two developed the concept for a major festival event to celebrate the ’60s social movements, and planned to open a recording studio in the town of Woodstock. With Kornfeld and partners John P. Roberts and Joel Rosenman, Lang set into motion the Woodstock festival, which was held on Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969.
Michael Lang was featured in many scenes of the 1970 Academy Award winning documentary film Woodstock : 3 Days of Peace & Music. Lang also produced Woodstock 94 with partners Roberts, Rosenman and co-producer John Scher, and Woodstock 99 With John Scher and Ossie Kilkenny.