Woodstock - (Art Reference Collection) by James E Perone (Hardcover)

About the Book

Held over three days in August 1969, the Woodstock festival was, for many, the culmination of the counterculture movement. More than 35 years later, the word Woodstock conjures notions of Edenic peace and love, a landmark moment from the Sixties that is both unforgettable and inimitable. In this authoritative reference guide--the first of its kind--historian James Perone presents encyclopedic entries on all the performers who played Woodstock, including Joan Baez, Country Joe and the Fish, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Ten Years After, The Who--even Sha Na Na--as well as the organizers and decision makers behind the event, from Michael Langer, governor Nelson Rockefeller, documentary film director Michael Wadleigh, and even the Concerned Citizens Committee who prevented Woodstock Ventures from holding the fair at the original site in Walkill, New York. Historical chapters trace the history of the festival from its inception and planning to its aftermath--including the infamous Altamont concert in December 1969 and the ill-fated 30th anniversary concert held in Rome, New York, in 1999. A wealth of historic photos plus an appendix of recordings and a subject index round out this wonderful reference for any scholar of 20th-century American music, history, and culture.

Book Synopsis

Held over three days in August 1969, the Woodstock festival was, for many, the culmination of the counterculture movement. More than 35 years later, the word Woodstock conjures notions of Edenic peace and love, a landmark moment from the Sixties that is both unforgettable and inimitable. In this authoritative reference guide--the first of its kind--historian James Perone presents encyclopedic entries on all the performers who played Woodstock, including Joan Baez, Country Joe and the Fish, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Ten Years After, The Who--even Sha Na Na--as well as the organizers and decision makers behind the event, from Michael Langer, governor Nelson Rockefeller, documentary film director Michael Wadleigh, and even the Concerned Citizens Committee who prevented Woodstock Ventures from holding the fair at the original site in Walkill, New York. Historical chapters trace the history of the festival from its inception and planning to its aftermath--including the infamous Altamont concert in December 1969 and the ill-fated 30th anniversary concert held in Rome, New York, in 1999. A wealth of historic photos plus an appendix of recordings and a subject index round out this wonderful reference for any scholar of 20th-century American music, history, and culture.

Review Quotes

"Though writing primarily for academic and informed fans, Perone has compiles a useful and exhaustive handbook/history to an important symbol of American social and music history; it appears to be the only resource of its kind. Recommended for strong reference collections." --Library Journal

"High-school, college, and public library readers should find the book both interesting and educative, if not exhaustive. The encyclopedia entries are diverse enough to serve as jumping-off points for further research on the producers/performers of Woodstock '69 and the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Those who want to know more about the festival's place in American history and the logistics involved in developing and promoting it will find the narrative chapters beneficial, as will those who are intrigued by the 1994 and 1999 events. All in all, the book is an insightful work on a turning point in American musical and cultural history." --Music Reference Services Quarterly

"[A] valuable and apparently unique contribution to the music and pop culture literature with this concise and informative book about the August 1969 music and art fair known as Woodstock....[t]his book is carefully documented and is truly a paper-writing student's or diehard Woodstock fan's dream!...Woodstock: An Encyclopedia of the Music and Art Fair is well-written, easy to comprehend and appears to have been a labor of love for its author. However, if possible, it would best serve both academic and lay readers by being placed in circulating collections. It is recommended for academic libraries supporting music programs and perhaps courses concerning 1960s culture. Larger public libraries may wish to consider purchasing this book as well." --Reference & User Services Quarterly

"[T]his is a title that will appeal to libraries of all types. It will serve both the general enquirer checking or seeking basic facts and the students faced with a Woodstock or 1960s counterculture assignment." --Reference Reviews

"Perone has established a useful foundation for further research on one of the seminal events in Amereican cultural history." --Lawrence Looks at Books

"A symbol of the hippie movement and the 1960s counterculture, Woodstock was actually just one of several music festivals of the time. This volume describes and contextualizes the famous 1969 event and notes its legacy....The spirit of Woodstock appeals to several generations. This volume provides useful information about the event, the actions leading to it, and its aftermath and is recommended for high-school, college, and public libraries." --Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

About the Author

James E. Perone is Associate Professor of Music at Mount Union College. He is the author of several books on music, including Music of the Counterculture Era and Songs of the Vietnam Conflict.