Campus & Beyond From Springsteen to the Stones: Your Big Red Concert Memories Stories You May Like ‘That’s When It Clicked’: Alums Share their Big Red ‘Aha’ Moments Libe Slope, Friends, and East Hill Sunsets: Your Fondest Memories From Greek Peak’s Slopes to Helen Newman’s Lanes: Phys Ed Memories We asked you to recall the musicians you saw on the Hill—and like a great rock show, your responses blew our minds By Cornellians Staff During his undergrad days, Joe Lavin ’75 served on the Cornell Concert Commission’s finance committee. “It was a great way to get free tickets to concerts,” he recalls, “even though we had to work at them.” Among Lavin’s favorites: a front-row spot at an Elton John show that opened the legendary rocker’s 21-city tour. He also saw other top-tier acts like the Beach Boys, Jethro Tull, Yes, Stevie Wonder, and Sly and the Family Stone; he even delayed going home for Christmas to see Don McLean of “American Pie” fame perform at Bailey. By the time Jim Croce—an unknown when the commission booked him to open for Loggins and Messina—got to the Hill, he had topped the charts with hits like “Operator” and “Time in a Bottle,” but was too gracious to play beyond his allotted time. “Another concert I can recall was the one I didn’t go to,” says Lavin, citing a Deep Purple show in Schoellkopf. “There was a thunderstorm, and they had to stop playing. The crowd went wild and rioted. I got a call from another Concert Commission member at midnight recounting the episode; he was so wound up, it must have been quite a scene.” Lavin’s reminiscences are among the dozens upon dozens we received in response to our call for Cornellians’ fondest and most vivid memories of concerts on the Hill. Our request clearly struck a chord—pun intended!—because the responses totaled a mindboggling 9,000+ words. Alumni recalled hearing some of the world’s most famous musicians—from the Stones to Springsteen and beyond. (In fact, the Boss’s ’78 concert in Barton generated more mentions than any other single show.) They also shared some life-changing moments, including more than one who attended a concert on a first date with their future spouse. The following is a sampling of those recollections. (Responses have been edited and condensed.) Drumroll, please … “My favorite Cornell concert experience (and certainly most surprising) was British folk rock group the Pentangle, paired with a folk singer who was new to the scene: James Taylor.” — Joe Dziengiel ’70, MEng ’71 “Patti Smith, the Godmother of Punk, in Bailey was a classic show. Performing ‘Because the Night,’ which she co-wrote with Bruce Springsteen, and a somewhat sarcastic version of the Debby Boone pop ballad ‘You Light Up My Life,’ Smith captured the breadth and depth of ’70s music.” — Brian Myers ’80 “I saw a lot of great concerts, but the most memorable was perhaps a show that was never advertised, sparsely attended, and rarely remembered. A friend’s band played in the parking lot behind Theta Delta Chi. They were great, as always. Another band came on that same evening. They were also great. ‘Who are these guys?’ I asked my housemate, Rich Pagano ’90. ‘The bass player went to my high school in New Jersey,' he said. 'They are called Blues Traveler.’ Two months later, they issued their debut album. Soon they were opening for the Allman Brothers. One year after that first visit to East Hill, they filled Bailey. Even many years later, they referred to Cornell as one of the places where they got their start.” — Karl Johnson ’89, PhD ’10 “I saw Bruce Springsteen at Barton. I wasn’t planning to go, but one of my classmates had an extra ticket and talked me into it. That one concert turned me into a huge fan. His energy was unbelievable! What an experience.” — Alan Hoffman ’82, BA ’84 “Peter, Paul, and Mary: great music, and especially fun after, years earlier, listening to Pete [Yarrow ’59] backstage as he led the ‘Romp ‘n’ and Stomp’ class as they sang folk songs together. My favorite memory was when Paul said he would now present an ‘old American standard’ and proceeded to do an accurate imitation of a toilet flushing!” — Jim Dierks ’62 “I saw several amazing concerts, including Eddy Grant, when he sang ‘Electric Avenue’ not once but twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan brought down the house in Bailey, and the Ramones ended up in Barton after Slope Day was rained out in 1984. My roommate Gary Holtzer ’86 still has the set list that had been taped to the stage floor. It's framed.” — Stephen Madden ’86 “Elton John was an amazing concert, but I remember thinking how weird he looked with his big, colorful glasses. What did I know?!” — Karen Leung Moore ’75 “I was a freshman when the Boss came to Barton. I’d never seen him before, so I was psyched to get seventh-row seats. The show was absolutely stunning—they blew the proverbial doors off. Toward the end of his third encore, Bruce stops, looks out at the crowd, and asks, ‘Don’t you guys have to go to class tomorrow?!’ ‘NO!’ came the roared response; Bruce rolled his eyes, and launched back into the ‘Devil with the Blue Dress’ medley.” — Chris Hanson ’82 “Jethro Tull had just released Thick as a Brick and played the entire album. I remember the density of the crowd awaiting entry before the doors opened.” — Dave Lautensack ’75 “I was the social chairman of the Interfraternity Council in 1968–69, which meant I organized the concerts. Stan Getz called to say they were on their way and looking forward to the performance. The concert was supposed to begin at 8 p.m. Stan Getz wasn’t there. He managed to reach me at Bailey to tell me they drove to Utica instead of Ithaca and that I should hold the crowd. Unfortunately, the crowd was not pleased, so the concert never happened. I ended up having dinner at the Station with Stan Getz and his group. It was exciting to meet him and make the best of it.” — Steven Ludsin ’70 providedDavid Klein ’05, MEd '06, shared a photo of Snoop Dogg playing at Slope Day 2005. “I remember seeing the Black Crowes at Barton. Their opening act was the Jayhawks. The acoustics were less than ideal, but it was a hell of a show.” — Whit Watson ’93 “Bob Dylan came out and played electric for the second set. It was shocking. I left!” — Mike Hogan ’69 “I finished my late shift washing pots at Noyes Center Union on West Campus, and came out and could hear Boston from across the campus!” — Dan Zaccardo ’81 “I saw Bruce at Barton. Although I’m from Jersey, I didn’t know his music. When he entered the stage, the whole place leapt to its feet. Except for me. He hadn’t done anything yet! But by the end of the long night (he started at 8 and left at 12:15), I was sold for life.” — Anthony Boyadjis ’81, JD ’84 “Billy Joel at Bailey—only half full!” — Tyler Etzel ’78 “The Four Tops and the Temptations gave fabulous concerts in Barton. There was dancing in the aisles. My ears are still ringing from the Janis Joplin screamfest, 57 years later.” — Stephen Goldberger ’69 “Saw the Rolling Stones during their first tour of the U.S., when Mick Jagger teasingly pulled his pants down a few inches—but their $10K fee was the only thing that caused complaints. Saw the Rolling Stones during their first tour of the U.S., when Mick Jagger teasingly pulled his pants down a few inches—but their $10K fee was the only thing that caused complaints. Peter Contuzzi ’67 Later that year, we saw Bob Dylan doing an all-acoustic solo first half followed by an equally good second half all-electric with his band. Many folk purists got up and left in protest; their loss. A little-known young comedian opened up for the little-remembered Brothers Four: neurotic, NY-centered humor by a guy named Woody Allen.” — Peter Contuzzi ’67 “I was a bit homesick and more than a little afraid to be so far away (three hours!) from home when I was asked by this really kind guy down the hall to go to a concert. Though I’d never heard of the performer, I was encouraged by my hallmates to say yes. And the rest is history—not with the guy down the hall, but with my forever heartthrob, Bruce (Springsteen).” — Jill Schwartz ’82 A contact sheet of images from the 1974 Joni Mitchell concert. “I had the unforgettable experience of seeing Joni Mitchell perform live at Barton. The venue offered floor seating near the stage, and I managed to settle in about five rows from the front, sitting cross-legged. As the lights dimmed and Joni walked onto the stage, a hush fell over the audience. But the stage lights were angled in such a way that she couldn’t see much of the audience. As she began to sing, she seemed to search for a focal point—and her gaze landed on me. For the rest of the performance, it felt as though she was singing directly to me. From that moment on, I’ve carried a heartfelt crush on her—one that’s lingered since that magical night.” — Dan Munter ’77 “At the Springsteen concert, every seat had a piece of computer paper on it with a seat number. First time ever for a concert at Barton Hall.” — Bob Holstein ’79, MS ’80 “I saw Grammy-winner Queen Ida and her Bon Temp Zydeco Band. I had never been introduced to the music before and I loved it! It was this interest in the music and its amazing culture that led to my being fixed up many years later with Ida’s cousin, who ran his own zydeco band in L.A. He and I have now been married 22 years!” — Cynthia Charatz Deculus ’89 “I most remember the Loggins and Messina concert—but because of the opening act, Jim Croce. I was a big fan and was more eager to see him than the headliners!” — Paula Amols ’75 “Coolio with special guest the Roots; it appeared to be a sellout. Scratches made to sound like gunshots echoed across Bailey to introduce ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ (these would carry a trigger warning today). Eric Goldman ’97 was foolish enough to engage in fisticuffs to retrieve Coolio’s sweat-soaked towel when it was cast to the crowd. The towel, of inestimable historical significance, was then transported to 204 Dryden Road, Apt. B (directly above Johnny’s Big Red) and displayed for the next six months. Sadly, the towel, like Coolio, is no longer with us.” — Ian Meisner ’96 “I remember seeing the Band as they were on the Last Waltz tour. All these years later I still marvel at what great musicians they were. My favorite memory was getting in for free and finding my way right up front thanks to friends on the Concert Commission. What a show.” — John Brindley ’76 At the Springsteen concert, every seat had a piece of computer paper on it with a seat number. First time ever for a concert at Barton Hall. Bob Holstein ’79, MS ’80 "I would put the concert that Phoenix played in 2010 towards the top of the list. Weeks later, they played with Daft Punk at Madison Square Garden! The most memorable song was 'Love Like a Sunset,' as they played the instrumental track behind a big curtain with huge silhouettes reaching to the top of Barton." — Nick Murray ’11 lindsay france / cornell universityThe Flaming Lips play Barton in 2010. “Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy. I was in the back row. Dolphy was playing bass clarinet and flute. Mingus was leading, playing my instrument, string bass. They played a 30-minute ‘Fables of Faubus.’ The entire concert is available on CD.” — Mark Heumann ’69, BA ’70 “Pete Seeger concert in Willard Straight. First date, sitting on a table up close and wonderful. Prelude to a 65-year marriage.” — Nancy Fendall Emerson, MA ’59 “Branford Marsalis flew into the Ithaca airport; his luggage was lost, including his saxophones. He made an announcement from the stage that he didn't have a horn to play. A handful of people left, came back and laid their saxophones at the foot of the stage. His performance was great, on other people’s horns. So cool.” — Stacey Max ’88 “Bruce show, fifth row. Caught his guitar pick when he flung it into the crowd.” — Dan Zaccardo ’81 “During the Grateful Dead show in May 1977, I was responsible for security in front of the stage. This meant that I and perhaps a dozen other Concert Commission members were in a narrow space formed by taking unused sections of the stage and turning them on their side. That is all that separated us from 8,500 Deadheads. Pete Seeger concert in Willard Straight. First date, sitting on a table up close and wonderful. Prelude to a 65-year marriage. Nancy Fendall Emerson, MA ’59 Between sets, we handed out cups of water to those who were getting ‘real bug-eyed’ (to quote Jerry). For those Deadheads that needed more than water, we pulled them over the security wall and escorted them under the stage and out the back door. It was a rare event in which the reality exceeded expectations—although I doubt anyone in attendance would have guessed the show would be regarded as one of the Dead’s best. It was, and still is, a long strange trip.” — Gary Dulberg ’79 “Tracy Chapman was incredible! Her voice sounded exactly like her recordings.” — Kelly O’Brien Fairley ’92 “The Rolling Stones visited for an outdoor performance near the end of their second U.S. tour. Under an unusually warm November sun and after a grueling schedule of appearances, Mick Jagger collapsed on stage. Revived, he and the others went on with the show.” — Carl Anderson ’68 “Springsteen in ’78. I didn’t really ‘get him’ until that concert. He is a monster performer.” — Janet Moran ’80 Stories You May Like ‘That’s When It Clicked’: Alums Share their Big Red ‘Aha’ Moments Libe Slope, Friends, and East Hill Sunsets: Your Fondest Memories “I was selection chairman of the Concert Commission. In summer 1973, Simon & Garfunkel had recently split up, and Paul Simon was performing solo. Our publicity effort included a parody version of our newsletter, which contained a comic biography—and featured a photo of Garfunkel, mis-identified as Simon. Tracy Chapman was incredible! Her voice sounded exactly like her recordings. Janet Moran ’80 At one point, a member of the road crew handed Simon a copy of the newsletter. He began reading it as he walked across Barton towards the dressing rooms. He almost ran into the wall. No explosion was heard, however. The concert was excellent, with Simon performing songs from both his solo albums and his Simon & Garfunkel days. At one point, a paper plane floated onto the stage. Simon picked it up and said into the microphone: ‘I saw a copy of your newsletter … very droll.’” — Rich Wagner ’74 providedPaul Simon in Barton, courtesy of Rich Wagner ’74. “Renaissance was the best concert. There was a technical glitch when playing ‘Carpet of the Sun’—which the audience didn’t notice, but the band did, so they insisted on replaying the song; the show was mesmerizing from there. The Beach Boys show was my first concert ever, and a real eye-opener for a naive boy from Georgia. I felt the Police and Billy Joel were destined for superstardom after seeing them—while the Kinks put on a show, not just a concert.” — Tom Furlong ’79, BA ’80 “I was sitting outside Willard Straight; someone ran out and said, ‘Springsteen tickets on sale now!’ Two tickets, sixth row, Darkness tour. Still have a ticket stub: $8.” — Adam Dinnebeil ’79 provided “I was fortunate to see Bob Dylan twice. My freshman year, he played in Bailey: simply sat in a chair in front of a closed curtain, playing his acoustic guitar. A year later, he played to a large crowd in Barton. For the first half he played his acoustic guitar, but after the intermission he came out with his band and played an electric guitar. Several audience members stood up and walked out; this is hard to imagine, now. I stayed. Lucky me!” — Christine Lewin LeGore ’68, MS ’73 “In 1972, Harry Chapin ’64, Phil Ochs, and Eric Weissberg performed together in Barton to support former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, who was seeking the Democratic nomination for president. I knew Harry and, a few times, drove him to his parents’ home in the Bronx during his on-again, off-again undergrad days.” — George Weiner ’64, BA ’66, PhD ’76 “The Police played Bailey in fall 1979. We promoted the daylights out of that show and could only sell 900 seats. (Eleven months later, they sold out MSG with the Go-Go’s.) I sat in on the sound check. Sting walked through the theater playing ‘Walking on the Moon’ to check out the sound in the venue. He almost whacked me in the head with the neck of his bass guitar! I’d feed the bands as a member of the hospitality committee. George Thorogood told us (three Hotelies: Mike Sacks ’82, Steve Wagner ’82, and me) that the meal we fed him was the best he had ever had at a college show. Sting walked through the theater playing ‘Walking on the Moon’ to check out the sound in the venue. He almost whacked me in the head with the neck of his bass guitar! Dave Chabon ’83 The Ramones at Bailey was an 11 p.m. show after the Harvard hockey game—great night. We beat Harvard, then went to the show. Darren Eliot ’83 (Cornell’s goalie and future NHL’er) sat behind us!” — Dave Chabon ’83 “I most remember the regret at skipping They Might Be Giants to study for a chemistry prelim. Poor choice.” — Marc Milgrom ’94 “My friends and I (Risleyites all) decided to sleep outside Willard Straight overnight for Indigo Girls tickets. It turned very cold and we took turns in the ATM vestibule at the Cornell Store to try to stay warm. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, a member of the janitorial staff opened the building so we could shelter in the lobby. It was worth it, though: we had front row seats for a truly amazing show.” — Toni Scime Kamsler ’94 “Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, each in Barton, circa 1969. Since these legends both died within two years of these concerts, it is hard to find people who have seen either perform, let alone in the intimacy of an under-10,000-capacity venue. Needless to say, I did not fully appreciate these shows at the time.” — Mike Dawley ’74 “Crosby & Nash, acoustic performance in Bailey. It was just the two of them with their guitars, playing and interacting with the audience. Absolutely magical!” — Kevin Schwartz ’92 “The poster for Boston was based on the album cover, with the flying guitar shining a beam of light on the clocktower. It was such a desirable item for dorm decor that [the Concert Commission] had to cut a chunk out of the side when they put them up. The Police in Bailey on their first tour without much of a following yet. The Kinks playing the opening riff to ‘Lola’ and joking that they weren’t going to play that one. Front row seats in Bailey for Warren Zevon. Barton had assigned seats (folding, wooden chairs) instead of general admission for Springsteen. Of course, everyone stood on them, and now and again someone would drop out of view when their chair collapsed.” — Gifford Lewis ’82 “Ray Charles was playing. The woman I had been dating had to go home for the weekend, so a friend fixed me up with a blind date for the concert. We just celebrated our 59th anniversary.” — Steve Mintz ’65 “Squeeze were great live, and I lucked out with front-row seats, where I had the opportunity to high-five lead singer Glenn Tilbrook. A truly wonderful memory.” — J.A. Impellizeri, DVM ’94 “Joan Baez at Bailey; I sang ‘We Shall Overcome’ all the way home, walking through the cemetery. Phil Ochs, also at Bailey; I was the emcee. Jane Fonda, Tom Hayden, and the singer Holly Near in their anti-Vietnam War show. They had dinner at my house first, cooked by the Concerned Asian Scholars.” — Philip Bereano ’61, BChemE ’62, MRP ’71 “The Mighty Mighty Bosstones in Bailey. Amazingly fun, high-energy show. Lots of people dressed up in Zoot suits.” — Adrienne Selan Novak ’97 “Ray Charles performed in Barton on a Saturday night. The crowd had mostly been partying for some time and was raucous at the beginning. As Ray worked through his repertoire with backing by the Raelettes, the crowd gradually became more attentive. Then the lights went down, leaving a single spot on Ray alone at the piano as he sang ‘Georgia on My Mind.’ Not a single person moved or made a noise. The silence was the greatest respect shown to any performer in my time at Cornell or anywhere else.” — David Cosson ’63 “I saw the Rolling Stones in fall ’65. I can’t believe that they’re still performing and Mick Jagger is in his 80s; I’m pushing 80 myself. I also saw Simon & Garfunkel in spring ’68. They had been booked before The Graduate was released. By the time they appeared on campus, they were the hottest ticket around.” — Marion Wong Chew ’68 “REO Speedwagon played Barton. As a freshman from a small town, I was pleased to discover I was attending a school where bands at the top of the charts were coming to perform! A memorable first rock concert for me.” — Irene Molnar Wrenner ’86 A contact sheet of shots of a typical Barton concert crowd—this one for Joni Mitchell in 1974. “My freshman year was a banner year for concerts. The Police played in Bailey! We got tickets to see the Records and my roommate convinced me that the backup band (Joe Jackson) was even better. She was right, obviously, but I had never heard of him. I think the Kinks came that year too! It was crazy how many great bands came to Ithaca.” — Janet Young Rodgers ’83 We got tickets to see the Records and my roommate convinced me that the backup band (Joe Jackson) was even better. She was right, obviously, but I had never heard of him. Janet Young Rodgers ’83 “Beach Boys at Barton were great! No one sat too long; everyone was dancing to their hit songs. ‘Good Vibrations’ was the finale. Never forgot that concert!” — Karen Wilk Rubin ’78 “The Pretenders in Barton. They were at the top of their game, and Chrissie Hynde was spectacular.” — Rich Shapiro ’85 “The Concert Commission was established in fall 1970 by four students: Abe Hirsch ’72, MEng ’73; Phil Sindel ’72; Neal Ushman ’73, PhD ’83; and me. We tried to do two concerts in Barton and one in Bailey each year. The shows were not as elaborate as they are today; sound and lighting and backgrounds were much simpler. My favorites were Paul Simon (I played basketball with him) and Elton John (I played 'Chopsticks' on the piano with him).” — Rick Saltz ’73, MBA ’74 “I saw Coolio at Bailey, which was completely underwhelming. But there was this great opening band; none of us had ever heard of them, and they were so good. It was the Roots!” — Meghan Work Boedges ’97 “Tracy Chapman—only concert I ever got in line for tickets super early.” — Carol Anne Slaughter Holland ’89 My favorites were Paul Simon (I played basketball with him) and Elton John (I played 'Chopsticks' on the piano with him). Rick Saltz ’73, MBA ’74 “I saw Suzanne Vega at Bailey, and it was transformative. I saw Vladimir Horowitz, and was lucky enough to have a seat on the stage (albeit looking at his back). I remember being disappointed that he was wearing a black turtleneck and not concert attire. But his playing was divine.” — Chris Nielsen Berg ’87 “Stevie Ray Vaughan at Bailey. Blew the doors off the place.” — David Moran ’88 Ryan Young / Cornell UniversityDead & Company's 2023 “5/8/77” benefit concert in Barton. “Kicked out of Springsteen concert for trying to get closer to the stage. Security threw us right out the door. Best ever was Cris Williamson at the Statler. First ‘out’ performer I saw, and she gave me heart to go on.” — Chris Fontana ’82 “I remember Jon Fishman of Phish hanging out at Risley between shows, because he was friends with one of my friends.” — Joanna Cohen ’96 “I was in Navy ROTC when Boston played. As a freshman midshipman, I was part of a detail with the thankless job of keeping the NROTC building inside Barton secured and clean during the concert. I found myself in front of somebody tuning his guitar, and the guy told me to move out of the way. I didn’t recognize him, but later saw him on stage: it was lead guitarist Tom Scholz! I sometimes regret missing my chance to quit my engineering studies and become a Boston roadie, but then I remind myself: Don’t look back!” — Tom Benton ’82 “The Police stopped the Ryder truck they were driving and asked me for directions to the concert venue. No roadies; three young, hustling musicians in Upstate New York. I should have quit school and gone to work for them.” — Jonathan Ferrini ’81 “I always recall Cake, and how they mocked the audience for being low energy and threatened to leave early (or did). Still glad I was there.” — Lori Davias Maloney ’02 “Saw Tito Puente open up for De La Soul in 1989. And while De La was amazing, Tito had people dancing in the aisles and out of their seats the entire show.” — Steve Chasen ’91 “Linda Ronstadt wore a cheerleader uniform. I was amazed at how such a powerful voice came from such a petite person!” — Maria Gallo ’84 “Saw Bob Dylan and Phil Lesh & Friends at Barton. Great show! Also saw Bill Staines (one of the greatest folk singers/songwriters of all time) perform as part of a Cornell Folk Song Society series.” — Adam Siegel, JD ’01 “Elvis Costello played Lynah Rink, complete with a go-go booth. Very, very fun.” — Heidi Heasley Ford ’87 Top: Photomontage by Ashley Osburn / Cornell University. (All images courtesy of Rare and Manuscript Collections, unless otherwise indicated.) Published August 11, 2025 Comments Rob Chodock, Class of 1989 12 Aug, 2025 Being on the Concert Commission I got to see so many shows. I was selected to make the fire announcement at Jimmy Cliff’s concert (Salt n Pepa opened). Had to tell everyone that there was “no smoking” in Bailey Hall during a reggae show! Got to meet Jimmy – nicest guy. Reply Jenia Molnar, Class of 1990 17 Aug, 2025 Rob! I recently unpacked some old boxes and found the photo Jimmy Cliff signed for me! It was so fun being on Concert Commission Reply Linda Madeo, Class of 1985 12 Aug, 2025 I remember seeing the Allman Brothers (with Blues Traveler opening), Stevie Ray Vaughan (yes, he did blow the doors off and people were dancing on their seats), Harry Chapin (who did 2 shows in Bailey and arrived seriously late for the first one … long time waiting for the 2nd show that night), The Indigo Girls, Boston, Ray Charles, and Linda Ronstadt (in the cheerleader uniform as mentioned). I know there were others, but can’t remember all of them. As a native Ithacan, concerts at Cornell were part of my life before, during, and after college. Reply K J, Class of 1979 13 Aug, 2025 As a townie and then a member of the Class of 1979 I had a chance to see a lot of the acts others listed. Two that haven’t been mentioned are Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson in Bailey Hall and Beatle Mania before it opened on Broadway. Reply Mark Bay, Class of 1993 14 Aug, 2025 Saw Buddy Guy, Live, Midnight Oil, and the Black Crowes. Spin Doctors played a frat party before they hit it big. My favorite show has to be Military Wife at Slope Day ‘93! Reply Leslie, Class of 1982 15 Aug, 2025 Remember waking up on the sidewalk in line to buy tickets for Springsteen ‘78 when people were walking over me haha. I did get tickets and was used to the SL night line from getting hockey tickets. I didn’t see mention of the Emerson Lake and Palmer concert. Also epic. Friend on Cornell Concert Commission said they each had an assistant to speak to each other allegedly. Reply Kim Fisher, Class of 2006 15 Aug, 2025 Nobody from my era responded…Death Cab for Cutie was probably my most memorable show at Cornell. Also loved seeing Incubus and Jimmy Eat World! Reply Dan Schiff, Class of 2005 22 Aug, 2025 Incubus was great, I remember it was a very A/V-heavy production. Also enjoyed Stone Temple Pilots and Counting Crows in Barton, plus Ryan Adams in Bailey. Fanclub Collective put on some memorable indie shows, including Interpol (in a common room on North Campus), Rainer Maria (in the JAM dorm practice space), and Ted Leo & The Pharmacists (on West Campus). Best set I ever saw at Cornell, even though it was after I graduated, was TV on the Radio at Slope Day 2007. They were at their absolute peak for 40 amazing minutes. Reply D G Rossiter, Class of 1973 16 Aug, 2025 Tom Leher R.I.P. in Bailey Hall about 1956. Somehow my mother got front and centre seats. Doc and Merle Watson multiple times, once from Bailey Hall it became 1/2 of a live album. In the early 1970’s the people who went on to found Rounder Records promoted (1) Del McCoury and (2) an all-star bluegrass band (Red Allen, Frank Wakefield, Don Stover, Tex Logan) in the Memorial Room. Reply Jim Tobin, Class of 1961 16 Aug, 2025 Didn’t anyone hear the Kingston Trio? Great concert. Reply Bill Keltz, Class of 1961 26 Aug, 2025 Yes, it was great. I think it was in the spring 1958 or 1959. Reply Kathryn Gabinet Kroo, Class of 1975 17 Aug, 2025 I remember Jethro Tull playing Thick as a Brick, Elton John crazily dressed at the piano, and Paul Simon walking out onstage in a white suit lit by a single spotlight. Reply Keith Reece, Class of 1969 17 Aug, 2025 I saw the Association in 1968 with my fiancé. We’ve been married 57years. We also saw the Loving Spoon full, but not sure what year. Reply Dani, Class of 2015 17 Aug, 2025 No one from my era responded either. Avicii in 2012 was a complete sh*tshow. I think it’s why Cornell didn’t bring back a DJ/dance act for years. Reply Eliza Barton Holland, Class of 1996 17 Aug, 2025 I was on CCC my whole time on the Hill, so it is hard to pick a favorite! But the biggest thrills were holding stage security against the barricades for The Black Crowes, meeting and providing personal security for BB King, and then being in charge of local promotion for Live – their album Throwing Copper hit #1 on the charts the weekend they rocked Barton Hall!! Reply Steven Hudes, Class of 1989 17 Aug, 2025 I was on the Concert Commission in 1988/89 and remember some great shows: Megadeth, Edie Brickell, Tracy Chapman,Stevie Ray Vaughn, UB40. Great memories. Reply Andrew Hayward, Class of 1999 26 Aug, 2025 That Edie Brickell show was my first rock concert. I was 11 (born in Ithaca to Cornell parents). Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars got a lot of play in my walkman that year. Reply Elizabeth Bauman, Class of 1973 17 Aug, 2025 Jethro Tull playing Barton in the early 70s blew us all away. Reply Eric Mueller, Class of 1973 17 Aug, 2025 Jethro Tull not only played the entirety of the “Thick As A Brick” album, but then played at least another hour of their hits from “Aqualung” and other albums. Ian Anderson got a big laugh when he looked around cavernous Barton Hall and said “Nice place ya’ got ‘ere. When’s the next train come through?” Reply Alyssa Cohen, Class of 1992 17 Aug, 2025 I’ll always remember UB40 in Barton and Jesus Jones in Bailey! So fun! I have to admit I fell asleep during Indigo Girls 🤪😂. They were way too mellow! Reply Karen Zelkind Buglass, Class of 1977 17 Aug, 2025 I loved the memory Nancy Fendall Emerson, MA ’59 posted about her first date and long marriage after a Pete Seeger concert. I too was a folkie and also had a first date at a Williard Straight Hall concert. It was Boys of the Lough. This year was our 46th anniversary! Reply George Williams, Class of 1972 17 Aug, 2025 how about Shanana — one of the IFC concerts in either spring of ‘71 or ‘72? Reply Greg Kishel, Class of 1973 17 Aug, 2025 A couple of years after their big breakout at Woodstock, but they were still well-choreographed and fresh. I recall the silent halt of about 30 seconds just before the very last line of “Blue Moon,” during which Bowser spat very loudly onto the stage. Reply Eric Mueller, Class of 1973 17 Aug, 2025 The opening act for Sha-Na-Na was a gentle soul named Jimmie Spheeris who played ethereal tunes on the piano. He had the misfortune of sharing a booking agent with Sha-Na-Na who put him on their tour despite the massive disparity between their styles of music. The crowd at Bailey Hall who came “greased and ready to kick a$$” basically booed the poor guy off the stage. Reply Dan Dovdavany, Class of 1996 17 Aug, 2025 Black Crowes at Barton March 12, 1993 Reply Stu Pattison, Class of 1963 17 Aug, 2025 The Limeliters, 1962 or 63 Spring weekend I think. Reply David Roth, Class of 1975 17 Aug, 2025 I was on the Concert commission as Stage-Crew from ’71 through ’75. So cool to be able to see acts from in-front of the front-row, or at the stage edge backstage after helping the roadies set up the shows. Reply victor reus, Class of 1969 17 Aug, 2025 I saw the Stones,Janis,and others in the late 60s.All great, but the most fun I remember were the Delta Phi Spring lawn parties with the Trashmen (Surfin Bird) and the Spencer Davis group. Reply Bob Everett, Class of 1965 17 Aug, 2025 And then there was the IFC or Spring Weekend concert in I believe 1964 when Johnny Mathis was a no show to a capacity Barton crowd. The crowd’s behavior was exemplary Reply Bob Powers, Class of 1969 17 Aug, 2025 I was a freshman in 1965 and attended both The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan concerts that fall. My parents came up to Cornell for Fall Weekend and I took them to the Dylan concert. I’ll never forget my mother saying, after one of Dylan’s songs, that he “sounded like a sick cow.” Reply carlson yost, Class of 1963 17 Aug, 2025 I saw Ellington in Schoellkopf, Peter, Paul and Mary in Barton, and Tony Bennett, also in Barton. Reply Greg Kishel, Class of 1973 17 Aug, 2025 Nobody ever remembers the show with the Incredible String Band and the Holy Modal Rounders, staged by the organizing committee for the first (or second?) Risley Medieval Fai, 1971 (or 1972?). Reply Carol Selman, Class of 1968 17 Aug, 2025 I went to every music concert between 1964 and 1967. (I decamped with my past, late husband Andy Barchas ’66, MS ’67 for NYC, taking my senior year as a guest at Barnard College.) A largely unknown Donovan performed his yet-unreleased “Mellow Yellow,”—“Electronic Banana, Gonna Be the Latest Craze….” When I went food shopping the next day, the IGA was sold out of bananas. I was thinking breakfast, not alternate states. Odetta sang, powerfully–possibly twice– in Bailey Hall. Peter, Paul and Mary did one of the big weekends, 1964 or ’65. Peter Yarrow, Cornell ‘ 59 recounted campus stories from his time on campus. I well remember the two Dylan concerts and laughed at the preening Mick Jagger when the Stones played Barton. Some questions: 1. Did the John Scher, Cornell concert organizer. mentioned in one of the posters, go on to produce concerts throughout Northern NJ in the later 60s…….South Mountain Arena? 2. I have long been trying to confirm which Motown artists I heard and saw (those coordinated dance moves….)at Cornell. Seems to be The Temptations and The Four Tops…..Any one else remember? And a shoutout to those responsible for some of these posters. Exceptionally good graphic design. Artist management probably supplied a template but suspect the earlier ones may have been in-house. Any information? Reply Debby Alberts, Class of 1979 17 Aug, 2025 For the ‘70s concerts we had a drafting table, a TSquare and triangle in the CC office upstairs in Willard Straight Hall. Everything was done by hand, no computer graphics or AI!! All original artwork, no templates provided by the artists. Thank you for the shoutout! Reply Rich C., Class of 1969 26 Aug, 2025 Temptations, Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, The Coasters, The Vibrations, The Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas…not all in one concert but they were all there during those years. Motown Revue and The Stones (10/30/65). “Satisfaction” was still No 1. Bob Dylan came for Fall Weekend. We were on the college concert tour schedule from NYC to Detroit. Saw The Beach Boys, Ella Fitzgerald (parents wknd), Simon and Garfunkel, Richie Havens in Bailey, Sly Stone and Sam and Dave at The Warehouse, Janis Joplin was Spring Wknd ‘69, Smokey opened for Donovan and everyone was revved up and people booed him because he was so soft after those guys. Peter, Paul and Mary were favorites, and they talked to everybody after the concerts. It was an amazing time for music… Reply Ellen Kotheimer, Class of 1992 17 Aug, 2025 I realized it was time to quit Field Hockey and join the Concert Commission when I kept sleeping out all night for concert tickets and then running back to my dorm to throw on my uniform for practice or games. My absolute favorite show was The Alarm on my birthday in December ‘89. I worked security for that one and the energy was awesome. “Rain in the Summertime” still swells in my chest so much it feels it might explode. A great driving song – all possibilities and the open road. Moved to California after graduating and became a drummer for the next 22 years. Reply Marty Lynch, Class of 1982 17 Aug, 2025 The Springsteen show was by far my favorite, but Warren Zevon put on a great show in Bailey that is a close second. And though they played downtown, NRBQ was fantastic! Thanks to all of you folks who served on the CCC for bringing those bands to the hill! Reply Ed Craine, Class of 1973 17 Aug, 2025 The Grateful Dead 1977 Of course this show has quite the reputation as well it should! It was a very tight performance from a great band that could wander at times in concerts. Add to that the great audience recordings that were of very high quality (probably a reflection on the excellent engineering students!?). The combination has made it a mythical concert. At the time, those in the audience certainly appreciated the remarkable performance they were experiencing. Glad I was still living in Ithaca post graduation then. Still fire up that soundtrack from time to time! Reply Robert Rene, Class of 1979 17 Aug, 2025 I may be one of the few Cornellians to have a double concert experience…I was on the Commission and worked the pit for a number of shows between ’76 and ’79 plus I played bass in a band that opened up for a Gil Scott Heron concert at Cornell as well. I think the reason you got so many replies is that concerts were such a meaningful part of the Cornell experience…probably still remain so. My most memorable moment was walking Kenny Loggins out to his bus after a show, and telling him I would call others if the crowd around him got too big. We walked out, there was literally no-one there, and he turned to me and dryly said, “I guess that means I’m toast.” Reply Eric Key, Class of 1977 17 Aug, 2025 Commander Cody, Slope Day, 1977. More fun the The Grateful Dead two days later in Barton. And just today we were talking about Joni Mitchell when she had just released Court and Spark, backed by Tom Scott and the LA Express Reply Lou Gross, Class of 1979 17 Aug, 2025 I ran a spotlight for Alpha Phi Omega for many CCC shows including Dead ’77 and Springsteen ’78. Bruce cleared Barton for soundcheck (I was up on a scaffold so stayed) and he walked the hall himself for the check! Harry Chapin did a Hunger benefit at Bailey in ’78 and for encore had me sing solo with him on “Circle” from the balcony while running the spot and coordinating on headset with the stage lighting. My voice was completely gone – he said “you sound like Joe Cocker on a really bad day”. Got to tell that story to Harry’s mother and his brother Tom many years later and they laughed along with me. I have been a volunteer sound engineer for hundreds of concerts since then here in Knoxville – thanks to Cornell for encouraging this avocation. Reply Cassie, Class of 1982 17 Aug, 2025 Herbie Hancock. Bailey Hall. Blew the doors off. Reply Sara Straw Winship, Class of 1968 17 Aug, 2025 Not enough mention of the Motown groups in the Sixties. The Temptations with David Ruffin, The Four Tops, later The Motown Review with Gladys Knight and the Pips, Martha & the Vandellas, others. Separately, wicked wicked Wilson Pickett (“Mustang Sally”). Fans dancing in the Barton Hall aisles and watching these showmen and women sing and entertain us with joy. We were all young and one with each other. Reply Debby Alberts (Yowell), Class of 1979 17 Aug, 2025 Thank you for including my Bruce Springsteen poster. After all these years as a Creative Director it’s still one of my proudest accomplishments! I also did the posters for Renaissance and Loggins & Messina during my time on CCC (‘75-‘79) Reply Jasper Schaible, Class of 1989 17 Aug, 2025 Stevie Ray Vaughan at Bailey…. 3rd row center. Everyone was standing on the wooden armrests doing our best not to fall. I’ve vague memories of KO’ing his mic stand, and while the roadies scrambled to repair, him ripping it up into an impromptu INSANE extended instrumental riff that utterly burned down the hall. Would love to score a bootleg tape of that show. Still remember exactly where I was at work the year after I graduated when the radio station broke in to announce his helicopter crash. Long live SRV. Gone too soon. Reply Susan Male, Class of 1976 17 Aug, 2025 This is great! But I’d actually like to read all 9,000 words! Can’t you make all of the unedited responses available? Also, many of the comments and the photos of posters or tickets don’t mention the year. Please make the dates and venues for all Cornell concerts available in an archive somewhere. Or maybe they already are? Thank you. Reply Lucrezia Herman, Class of 1976 18 Aug, 2025 You can find info on performers and years via the Cornell Archive records: https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMA03832.html and even some digitized posters here: https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog?f%5Barchival_collection_tesim%5D%5B%5D=Cornell+Concert+Commission+records&search_field=all_fields Reply Gabriella Melton, Class of 2025 17 Aug, 2025 It is so heartwarming to see all of these responses! As a four year member of CCC, it’s incredible to hear firsthand about the history of the organization that has served as the heart of Cornell programming since 1971! Reply John Drohan, Class of 1990 17 Aug, 2025 Megadeth, Sanctuary and Warlock in Bailey Hall. Reply Jack Halpern, Class of 1981 17 Aug, 2025 Surprised nobody mentioned the Harry Chapin Concert of 1977. It was in a venue in the round at the back of the Arts quad. I remember it for many reasons. I went with Rich Julius, his friend Suzanne and my girl friend at the time. Rich had gotten us the tickets and I didn’t ask how. About 1/2 hour into the concert Harry announced his sister Suzanne was sitting in the audience, (he already explained his revolving door life as a student at Cornell earlier) and thats when the spots swung around and hit us. We were sitting front row with Harry’s sister. Reply Glenn Woythaler, Class of 1985 17 Aug, 2025 George Thorogood’s December 1984 Concert with Duke Robillard opening for him was a tremendous concert. George Thorogood even commented on the energy in Bailey that night. Reply Andy Ingraham, Class of 1975 17 Aug, 2025 Three corrections to George Weiner ’64’s recollections about the Harry Chapin / Phil Ochs / Eric Weissberg concert to support Ramsey Clark’s election — – It was in Bailey Hall, not Barton. – It was in 1974 or 75, not 1972. I’m leaning towards 1975. – Ramsey Clark was running for U.S. Senator, not President. You might have seen me on-stage too, during Eric Weissberg’s set, setting up equipment next to the podium – and again during Harry Chapin’s set when Ramsey Clark phoned in and it was put on Bailey Hall’s speakers. My job was getting the phone call into the PA system. This concert was NOT arranged by the Cornell Concert Commission, a fact that pissed them off. I’m told it was the last time they allowed a concert that did not go through the Concert Commission. After the concert I got a car ride with Phil Ochs. I was going back to Collegetown while Phil was ferried back to his hotel (or a late-night diner if they could find it). It was not that long before his death. Reply Caroline Hecht, Class of 1976 17 Aug, 2025 First, I can’t believe all the amazing concerts that I missed. Some of the best concerts I did go to were the Folk Festivals in Barton Hall in 1973 and 1974. Also Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, and one other in Bailey around 1975 or 1976. And Larry Coryell in Noyes Hall on West Campus, of all places, around 1980. I came to Cornell in 1972, and am one of those who never left Ithaca, ended up working for Cornell for about 35 years. Reply Ron Klein, Class of 1976 26 Aug, 2025 I recall David Bromberg giving an intimate clinic outdoors on the lawn on “How to play any instrument” during one of the folk festivals Reply Lucrezia Herman, Class of 1976 17 Aug, 2025 I saw many concerts at Cornell from ‘72 through the 80s as I stayed on as a Cornell employee. Among those concerts were two by Renaissance in the late 70s, the second of which was memorable for the way it ended. It took place in Bailey Hall. For the second encore, the group performed Ashes Are Burning, and the reaction was rapturous, so much so that as the musicians left the stage the audience would not stop applauding. Applause turned to foot-stomping and shouting for “More!” This went on for almost 10 minutes. Finally one of the male members of the group came back out on stage and was visibly angry. “We’ve just given you 20 f-ing minutes of Ashes Are Burning. There is no more, go home!” There were some boos from the audience, he left the stage, and people finally filed out. Reply Don Betowski, Class of 1974 17 Aug, 2025 My wife to be went to the Don McLean concert in Bailey Hall. We decided American Pie would be OUR song. Reply marek stycos, Class of 1988 18 Aug, 2025 Since I was a townie before I became a Cornelian, my first show was Boston, Don’t Look Back. They played the album perfectly note for note and as I was 11 years old, I had been expecting a revelation, an awakening, but they bored me and I wondered why people didn’t just stay home and listen to the record. Next I saw The Cars for the Candy-O tour and they did the same. A bunch of statues on the stage. Finally I attended, The Kinks. Ray Davies charisma and crowd interaction sealed my fate as he exploded on stage. The raw, sloppy power and nonchalance of the guitar player, like he was taking out the trash– this is what I wanted to do with my life. I was a 17 year old freshman in 1984 and my band,Image: Essential, opened for the Burns Sisters at Barton Hall as part of the Phi Psi 500 celebration. I had never performed on such a large stage and remember thinking, “how do I fill it up?” Years later in the arena at Greatwoods, MA, my ego and beer took care of that. Reply Leah (Minemier) MacLeod, Class of 1978 18 Aug, 2025 My reward for tying stage sections on my back for a CCC Barton show was front row center for Renaissance in Bailey. When a guy sat in the next seat, he leaned over and said “You with the band?” I asked why. He said “I was first in line for tickets and that seat was already taken. You must be somebody special.” I didn’t think so before then, so thank you, Doug Foulke, for the reward seat! Reply Toby Mark Miller, Class of 1973 18 Aug, 2025 James Taylor Fall 1969. An added bonus was seeing JT in the bathroom of my Balch Hall dorm the next morning. Reply Tom Goettel, Class of 1975 19 Aug, 2025 Martin Mull gave a free concert at Bailey Hall around 1974. I had no idea who he was just went because it was free! He had a band and was, of course, hysterical. Reply Tom Groves, Class of 1976 20 Aug, 2025 I was there for The Beach Boys concert and I have a somewhat different memory. As I recall the power went out for a while in the middle of a song and when it came back they sent out this kid who was touring with them as part of the band who played an extensive solo. We surmised, perhaps incorrectly, that the rest of them were pissed off and cooled their heels backstage. I think I DO remember they got over it and played a great second half. Anyone else remember this? Reply Dave Auerbach, Class of 1975 20 Aug, 2025 Mahavishnu Orchestra, playing Birds of Fire, with Weather Report as the opening act. Yes, playing Close to the Edge. Jethro Tull, playing Thick as a Brick. Grateful Dead. It was always interesting how smoky Barton Hall was the next day after consorts, :-). Paul Winter Consort in Bailey Hall, with him getting the audience to howl like wolves. Reply Ron Klein, Class of 1976 26 Aug, 2025 Peter Schickle presenting the works of PDQ Bach in Bailey Hall. As he always did at his performances, he entered the stage sliding down a rope from the balcony. Reply Ron Klein, Class of 1976 26 Aug, 2025 And, of course, numerous Zobo Funn Band performances at the Straight . Reply Steven Locke, Class of 1968 26 Aug, 2025 Looking at this list above, I am amazed at the talent that played Cornell over the years. I was at Cornell 1963-68 (not 66-67) and I recall that the Stones concert in 1965 was at the War Memorial Concert Hall in Syracuse, not on the Cornell campus. We organized several fraternities to buy large blocks of tickets and so we got priority seating in about the third row. The Stones were at least an hour late. I saw Bob Dylan’s first concert at Cornell in Bailey Hall, and because he never said a word to the audience during the entire first set, I left at the intermission. I have since learned that he always said that his songs were his communication and he did not owe it to the audience to talk to them. I just prefer entertainers who give some context to their songs like Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez, James Taylor, and Joni Mitchell did. Reply James Carman, Class of 1983 26 Aug, 2025 Can I give a shout-out to the poster graphics for these concerts? They’re awesome! I also went to the Springsteen show. My wife (to be) and I had tickets in row 30 but when we showed up the sound board was there. “Don’t worry…we moved you.” To the 10th row CENTER! The Boss was a foot away from me when he came into the audience during the show. Doobie Brothers (with Jeff “Skunk” Baxter) were also great that year. He was so stoned that he sat on a chair for the whole set, until the guitar solo in China Grove. He lifted the roof off Barton. Reply Dianne Berger, Class of 1945 26 Aug, 2025 Janice Ian at Baily Hall. The Incredible String band there as well!! Such opportunities to hear new music. Hugh Lewis and Billy Benson and their band at the Straight- good dancing music. Reply Bill Chamberlain, Class of 1973 26 Aug, 2025 Blood Sweat and Tears–Barton Hall Reply DAVID S COLLINS, Class of 1968 26 Aug, 2025 Saw in Barton freshman year Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, and The Animals (interesting remembrance about The Animals was seeing them in the State St. Diner after the show!). In Grad School (69-70), best remembrance was the late great Janis Joplin. It was either Fall Weekend 69 or Spring Weekend 70, not too long before she died)) (I was one of the ones wearing a toga). All great memories. Reply Andrew Goldstein, Class of 1969 26 Aug, 2025 I met my future in-laws for the first time during intermission at the Simon and Garfunkel Barton Hall concert, April 20, 1968. They sat many rows away but each of them were over six feet tall and easy to spot. The encounter went well, facilitating marriage in 1970 to my best partner and soulmate of 55 years, a 1970 Hum Ec. graduate. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Cornelliana Alum’s Big Red Memorabilia Collection Captures a Bygone Era Alumni From Player to Head Coach: Alum Leads Big Red Men’s Lacrosse Bear Hugs Sewn for a Hum Ec Class in the ’50s, Alum’s Dress Comes Home