Thanx once again, rw!!
The Schaefer Music Festival
was a recurring music festival held in summer between 1968 and 1976 at the Wollman Skating Rink in New York City's Central Park. Beginning life in 1966 as the Rheingold Central Park Music Festival, the series was sponsored by F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company, brewer of Schaefer Beer.
The F and M. Schaefer Brewing Company took over sponsorship of the Central Park Music Festival in 1968, from Rheingold beer. The cost of the annual music festival was about $500,000, and admissions, at $1 per person in 1968, were expected to bring in $250,000 to $270,000 for the summer program, leaving a deficit, picked up by Schaefer, of more than $200,000. "Until Schaefer decided to assume sponsorship, the prospect was that the ticket price [from 1967] would have to be doubled. The $2, [Commissioner of Parks August Heckscher] said, would have been 'too expensive for a lot of New Yorkers.' " [1]
In the 1960s, before the rise of corporate concert organizers and ticket agents, top rated bands would often play for free (especially in San Francisco) or for amounts that resulted in reasonable concert ticket prices. Just before the Schaefer Music Festival kicked off in the summer of 1968 a free concert was given in Central Park featuring the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, three of the top acts at that time. 6,000 people "jammed into the bandstand near the [Central Park] Mall while thousands more sprawled out on the grass and under the trees." [2]
Club owner and musician Hilly Kristal co-founded the series with producer and concert promoter Ron Delsener. Over the years a veritable Who's Who of superstars of the popular music scene performed there. Inexpensive tickets, which started at $1 in 1967 and rose to only $3 by 1976, further contributed to the event's popularity. While the capacity of the Wollman Rink was usually limited to about 6,000 to 7,000 people, it is reported that Bob Marley's performance in 1975 had attracted about 15,000 people.[citation needed]
In 1976 Dr. Pepper assumed sponsorship of a Central Park concert series, renamed The Dr. Pepper Central Park Music Festival. Due to residential noise complaints, this series was moved to Pier 84 on the West Side in 1981. In 1983 Miller Beer took over sponsorship, continuing it as the Miller Time Concert on The Pier through 1988.
1967
July 5: The Young Rascals; The Jimi Hendrix Experience; Len Chandler
1968
June 27: Count Basie & His Orchestra; Joe Williams
June 28: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
June 29: Moby Grape; Muddy Waters
July 1: Mongo Santamaria; Hugh Masakela
July 3: Mitch Ryder & Spirit
July 5: Sarah Vaughan; Herbie Mann
July 6: Nina Simone; The People's Choice
July 8: Ray Charles Orchestra & The Raelettes
July 12: Pete Seeger; Len Chandler
July 13: Montego Joe Septet; Sergio Mendes & Brazil '66
July 17: Indrani's Indian Music & Dance Festival with Ali Akbar Khan
July 20: (postponed from July 19) Indrani's Indian Music & Dance Festival with Ali Akbar Khan
July 21: Indrani's Indian Music & Dance Festival with Ali Akbar Khan
July 22: Chrysalis; Rosko (poetry); Theodore Bikel (filling in for Janis Ian)
July 24: Vanilla Fudge; Ultimate Spinach
July 26: Richie Havens; (Seals and Crofts?)
July 27: Duke Ellington Orchestra
August 1: B.B. King; Fats Domino
August 3: Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention; Buddy Guy
August 5: Lou Rawls; Joe Keyes
August 7: The Who; Mandala
August 9: George Shearing Quintet; Amanda Ambrose; Hal Waters
August 10: Flip Wilson; Little Anthony & the Imperials
August 12: Jimmy Smith; Gloria Lynne
August 14: Joni Mitchell; Arlo Guthrie
August 16: Tom Paxton; Patrick Sky
August 17: The Chambers Brothers; Little Richard
August 19: Traffic; Tim Buckley
August 21: Country Joe and the Fish; Eric Andersen
August 23: Judy Collins
August 24: Herbie Mann; Cal Tjader
1969
June 26: Benny Goodman; Lionel Hampton
June 27: Tiny Tim; Sweetwater
June 28: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown; Rhinoceros
June 30: Flip Wilson; The Modern Jazz Quartet
July 2: Jerry Lee Lewis; Pacific Gas & Electric
July 5: Hugh Masekela; Willie Bobo
July 7: Miles Davis; Thelonious Monk
July 9: Blood, Sweat & Tears; Carolyn Hester
July 11: Herbie Mann; Eddie Harris
July 12: The Byrds; Chuck Berry; John Lee Hooker
July 14: Jeff Beck; Orpheus
July 16: Ten Years After; Chicago Transit Authority (Fleetwood Mac was originally scheduled to play on this date)
July 18: Buffy Sainte-Marie; Cashman, Pistilli & West
July 19: Cannonball Adderley; The Sweet Inspirations
July 21: Led Zeppelin; B. B. King
July 23: Joni Mitchell; Tim Hardin
July 25: Mongo Santamaría; Cal Tjader; Ray Barretto; Chucho Avellanet
July 26: Sly and the Family Stone; Slim Harpo
July 27: Carlos Montoya; Paul Winter
July 28: Paul Butterfield Blues Band; Jethro Tull
July 30: Buddy Rich; Procol Harum
August 1: The Beach Boys; Neil Young
August 2: Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention; Buddy Guy
August 4: Dizzy Gillespie; Carmen McRae
August 6: Little Richard; The Checkmates, Ltd.
August 8: Tom Paxton; Gordon Lightfoot
August 9: Herbie Mann; Roy Ayers; Sonny Sharrock
August 11: Arlo Guthrie; Melanie
August 15: Al Kooper; James Cotton
August 16: Lou Rawls; Carl Holmes and The Commanders; Ruth McFadden
August 18: Nina Simone; Montego Joe
August 22: Tim Buckley; Times Square
August 23: Sam & Dave; Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles
1970
June 25: Ray Charles & The Raelettes
June 27: Buddy Rich
June 29: The Band
July 1: Les McCann & Eddie Harris; Roberta Flack
July 3: The Four Seasons
July 6: Miles Davis Septet; Buddy Miles
July 8: Mongo Santamaría; Cal Tjader; Ray Barretto
July 10: Tom Rush; Melanie
July 13: Ike & Tina Turner; The Voices of East Harlem
July 15: Four Tops; Eddie Holman
July 17: Stan Kenton; Four Freshmen; Chris Connor
July 18: Little Richard; Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders
July 20: Van Morrison; The Byrds
July 22: Arlo Guthrie
July 24: Great Speckled Bird; Ian & Sylvia; Tom Paxton
July 25: La Lupe; Joe Bataan
July 27: Peggy Lee
July 29: John Sebastian; The Manhattan Transfer
July 31: Iron Butterfly
August 1: Dave Brubeck feat. Paul Desmond; Dakota Staton
August 3: Jethro Tull
August 5: Delaney & Bonnie feat. Duane Allman and Herbie Mann; Seals & Crofts
August 7: Johnny Mathis
August 8: The Impressions; Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles
August 10: Judy Collins
August 12: The Supremes; The Meters
August 14: The Everly Brothers; John Denver
August 15: Sam & Dave; Jam Factory
August 17: Mountain
August 21: The Guess Who; Kathy McCord
August 22: Fleetwood Mac; Bloodrock; Zephyr
1971
June 24: Nancy Wilson; Thad Jones & Mel Lewis
June 28: Buddy Rich; Chase
June 30: The Band; Happy Traum; Artie Traum
July 7: Mongo Santamaría; Herbie Mann; Roy Ayers
July 9: Ravi Shankar
July 10: Melanie; Janey & Dennis
July 12: Ella Fitzgerald; Oscar Peterson
July 14: The Supremes
July 16: Poco; Jerry Riopelle
July 17: The Byrds; JF Murphy and Salt
July 19: Peggy Lee
July 21: The Allman Brothers Band; Cowboy
July 23: The Four Seasons; Jay and the Americans
July 24: Cal Tjader; Willie Bobo; Joe Cuba
July 26: Mary Travers
July 28: Roberta Flack; Donal Leace
August 2: Judy Collins
August 4: Delaney & Bonnie; John Hammond
August 6: Sha Na Na; The Voices of East Harlem
August 7: Dave Brubeck feat. Gerry Mulligan/Paul Desmond, Chico Hamilton
August 9: Kris Kristofferson; Janis Ian; Chris Gantry
August 11: Seatrain; Moby Grape
August 13: Robert Klein; Tom Paxton; Bert Sommer; Tony Joe White; Bobby Gosh; Carol Hall; Jonathan Edwards
August 14: Les McCann; Cannonball Adderley; Esther Marrow
August 16: Procol Harum; Mylon LeFevre
August 18: Robert Klein; John Denver; Dion; Jackie Lomax; Bonnie Raitt; The Quinaimes Band
August 20: Paul Butterfield Blues Band; James Cotton
August 21: The Chambers Brothers; Mandrill
August 23: Seals & Crofts; Earl Scruggs; Jerry Corbitt; The Charlie Daniels Band
August 25: David Steinberg; Carly Simon
August 27: The Five Satins; Screamin' Jay Hawkins; The Coasters
August 28: Little Richard; The Orioles; The Harptones; The Jive Five
1972
June 15: José Feliciano; Billy Joel
June 17: Canned Heat; Dr. John the Night Tripper
June 20: Badfinger; Kindred; Michael Gately
June 23: Seatrain; Loggins & Messina; Chi Coltrane
June 24: Melanie; Janey & Dennis
June 30: Nina Simone; N.Y. Rock Ensemble
July 7: Billy Preston; Leo Kottke; Strawbs
July 8: Mandrill; Curtis Mayfield 7 p.m.; The Association/Jackie DeShannon 9:30 p.m.
July 12: Edgar Winter; Blues Project
July 14: Don McLean; Bill Withers
July 15: Chambers Brothers; James Cotton Blues Band
July 17: B.B. King; Alex Taylor; Merry Clayton
July 19: Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77
July 21: An Evening of Gold w/ The Four Seasons; Jay & The Americans
July 22: Lighthouse; Five Dollar Shoes
July 26: Arlo Guthrie; Harry Chapin
July 28: J. Geils Band; Heads Hands & Feet
July 29: J. Geils Band; Heads Hands & Feet
July 30: Sha Na Na; Tiny Alice; Captain Beyond
Aug. 2: Ella Fitzgerald; Herbie Mann
Aug. 4: Bobby Darin; Ace Trucking Company
Aug 5: Mahavishnu Orchestra; Taj Mahal
Aug. 7: Savoy Brown; Malo
Aug 9: Peggy Lee
Aug. 11: Quicksilver Messenger Service; Bull Angus; Pure Food & Drug Act
Aug. 12: Tom Rush; David Blue; Pamela Polland
Aug. 14: Slade and Looking Glass played, Marc Bolan of T-Rex being ill.
Aug. 16: Bette Midler; Gun Hill Road; Moogy & The Rhythm Kings
Aug. 18: The Byrds; Jim Dawson
Aug. 19: Blood, Sweat & Tears; Chris Smither; Orphan
Aug. 21: The Doors; Flo & Eddie
Aug. 23: The Kinks; Orleans
Aug. 25: Poco
Aug. 26: Poco
Aug. 28: James Gang; Ruth Copeland; David Bromberg
Aug. 30: Richie Havens; Goose Creek Symphony
Sept. 1: Ginger Baker; Buddy Miles
Sept. 2: Ginger Baker; Buddy Miles
1973
June 20: Bill Cosby; Little Anthony & the Imperials
June 22: Blues Project Reunion; Roche Sisters
June 23: Lee Michaels; Terry Reid
June 25: King Crimson; Jo Jo Gunne
June 29: Quicksilver Messenger Service; Malo
June 30: Chambers Brothers; Sons of Champlin
July 6: Blood, Sweat & Tears; The Section
July 7: John Sebastian
July 9: Ruben and the Jets; Deodato; Calhoon (Mott the Hoople was originally scheduled to play on this date)
July 11: Black Oak Arkansas; Mason Proffit
July 13: Richie Havens; Jimmie Spheeris
July 14: Rod McKuen
July 16: Blue Öyster Cult; Andy Pratt
July 18: Erroll Garner; Buddy Rich & Orchestra
July 20: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons; Jay and the Americans
July 21: Marshall Tucker Band (Canned Heat and Wet Willie were originally scheduled to play on this date)
July 23: Ray Barretto; Machito & Orchestra with Graciela; Willie Colón
July 25: Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77
July 27: Judy Collins
July 28: Cheech & Chong; Melissa Manchester
July 30: B.B. King; James Cotton Blues Band
August 1: TV Show, with The Eagles; John Sebastian; Sly & the Family Stone; The Temptations, and Melissa Manchester
August 2: TV Show, with The Eagles; John Sebastian; Sly & the Family Stone; The Temptations, and Melissa Manchester
August 3: José Feliciano; Leo Kottke
August 4: Focus; Elephant's Memory (Leo Kottke was originally scheduled to play on this date)
August 6: James Gang; Tim Buckley; Ralph McTell (7:30 PM show)
August 6: Leslie West's Wild West Show with Mitch Ryder; Mitch Ryder & Band (10 PM show) (10cc was originally scheduled to play on this date)
August 8: Helen Reddy; Robert Klein; Buzzy Linhart
August 10: Mary Travers; Dion
August 11: Wishbone Ash; Jimmy and Vella Cameron; Joe Walsh and Barnstorm (It's A Beautiful Day was originally scheduled to play on this date)
August 13: Gladys Knight & the Pips; Blue Hare
August 15: Earl Scruggs and Revue; David Bromberg; Doc Watson (The Everly Brothers were originally scheduled to play on this date, but they had split up in July)
August 17: Mahavishnu Orchestra; Casey Kelly
August 18: Mahavishnu Orchestra; Wet Willie (The Marshall Tucker Band was originally scheduled to play on this date)
August 20: Robin Trower; Mark-Almond; Foghat
August 24: Bonnie Raitt; Maria Muldaur; John P. Hammond
August 24: Muddy Waters; Bobby Womack & Peace; Chick Corea
August 27: Buffy Sainte-Marie; Chip Taylor
August 29: Charlie Daniels; Sha Na Na (7 PM and 9:30 PM shows; Sha Na Na only at 9:30 show)
August 31: Poco; David Blue
September 1: Poco; David Blue
September 5: The Edgar Winter Group (The Eagles were originally scheduled to play on this date)
September 7: Buddy Miles Express; The Incredible Bongo Band (Billy Preston and Labelle were originally scheduled to play on this date)
September 8: Dave Mason
1974
June 12: Benny Goodman and his Sextet
June 14: The Original Righteous Brothers; Sam & Dave (7 PM and 9:30 PM)
June 15: An Evening with Melanie (7 PM and 9:30 PM)
June 17: James Gang; Maggie Bell; Duke Williams & The Extremes
June 19: Steeleye Span, Bonnie Raitt with John Hall, Howdy Moon (John Sebastian was originally scheduled to play on this date)
June 21: Two Generations of Brubeck: Dave Brubeck, Darius Brubeck, Chris Brubeck, Danny Brubeck; John P. Hammond
June 22: Todd Rundgren's Utopia (with Special Guest Chaka Khan)
June 24: Mahavishnu Orchestra
June 25: Dionne Warwicke; Barry Manilow; Jane Olivor, likely billed then as Janie Olivor
June 28: Herbie Mann & The Family of Mann; Carlos Potato & His Bata Cubano; Joe Bataan
June 29: Mandrill; Labelle
July 1: King Crimson; Golden Earring
July 8: ZZ Top; Brownsville Station
July 10: Bobby Womack and Peace; Bloodstone; Minnie Ripperton (Earth, Wind & Fire was originally scheduled to play on this date)
July 12: Robert Klein; Melissa Manchester; Jim Dawson
July 13: José Feliciano; Freddie Prinze; Druick & Lorange
July 15: Souther Hillman Furay Band; Leo Kottke
July 17: America; Ian Matthews
July 19: Linda Ronstadt; Martin Mull (Jesse Colin Young was originally scheduled to play on this date)
July 20: Tom Rush; Janis Ian
July 22: B.B. King; Bobby Blue Bland
July 24: Harry Chapin
July 26: Poco; Snafu
July 27: Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tim Buckley
July 29: Dave Mason; Premiata Forneria Marconi
August 3: Anne Murray; Bruce Springsteen; Brewer & Shipley (Boz Scaggs was originally scheduled to play on this date)
August 9: Uriah Heep; Manfred Mann
August 10: David Bromberg
August 12: Marshall Tucker Band
August 17: Don McLean
August 23: Peter Frampton; Snafu
August 31: Premiata Forneria Marconi
September 3: John Sebastian
September 4: Foghat; Bad Company
September 7: Rory Gallagher; Aerosmith
1975
June 18: Bob Marley & The Wailers
June 20: Journey
June 21: Montrose; Leslie West; Thee Image
June 25: Mirabai; Jim Dawson; Robert Klein
July 2: Dave Mason; Pousette-Dart Band
July 5: Blood, Sweat & Tears
July 9: The Bee Gees w/ Revelation
July 14: The Marshall Tucker Band
July 16: Three Dog Night
July 21: Brownsville Station; Slade
July 23: Hot Tuna
July 27: James Gang; Peter Frampton
July 28: Return to Forever: Chick Corea, Al Di Meola, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White
July 30: Poco
August 9: Judy Collins
August 13: The J. Geils Band; Ruby Starr; Roomful of Blues
August 16: The Charlie Daniels Band; Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
August 24: America
August 25: Utopia; Todd Rundgren
August 29: Aerosmith; Ted Nugent
September 12: Melissa Manchester; Barry Manilow
September 13: John Sebastian; Lori Lieberman; California English
September 14: Roy Buchanan; Forest Green; NRBQ
1976
June 18: Gentle Giant; Starcastle
June 19: Jesse Colin Young; Aztec Two Step
June 23: Atlanta Rhythm Section; The Charlie Daniels Band
June 28: Flight; Sons of Champlin; Shakti & John McLaughlin
July 3: Cheech & Chong; Utopia
July 9: Patti Smith
July 12: B.B. King
July 21: Donovan; Giba
July 26: Nils Lofgren; Rick Derringer
July 30: Gerard; Kingfish feat. Bob Weir
August 2: Grinderswitch; The Marshall Tucker Band
August 14: John Hammond; The Cate Brothers; The Outlaws
September 1: Diane Scanlon; Gary Wright; Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush; Johnny & Edgar Winter
September 3: Foghat; Diane Scanlon
September 4: David Bromberg