How I Saved Woodstock

chip today

I got out of the Navy in 1962 and found myself hanging out in the Folk Scene In Toronto.

I was friends with Ken Danby who owned the New Gate of Cleve coffee house. and I then ended up in charge of the Food Concessions at the second Mariposa folk Festival in Orillia. I was staying at a motel as we set up the week before, and in the next room was the coolest guy I had ever met. he was from New York and did the lighting. We had a few beers together everyday. Chip had little round blue sunglasses and a young hippie wife with a baby and he knew everybody and was just cool. So the day befor the show he is looking real sad and I ask why. he says he is leaving. he broke his most important light and it cost $150.00 and he didn't have enough to pay for it. I asked if he could get it in Orillia he said yes. So we went and bought it and I charged to the Festival. So the show went on and saved his business. That cool guy was Chip Monck one of the principle founders of the Woodstock Festival. So that is how I saved Woodstock (lol)

Valdy,

singer/songwriter - British Columbia - 2008 - Ottawa-born as Daldmar Horsdal, he went on to become an iconic figure on the fledgling Canadian music scene in the 1970s. His Valdy & the Hometown Band recording of 1976 is a classic.

Roy Payne,

singer/songwriter, Newfoundland & Labrador - 1995 - one of the most fiercely Canadian recording artists of the 1960s, his songs I Wouldn't Trade a Million Dollars for a Single Maple Leaf and The Goofy Newfy defined his no-bullshit demeanor

Gordon Lightfoot,

singer/songwriter, Ontario - 2000 - started out as a singer and square dancer on CBCs Country Hoedown - started due The Two Tones before going out on his own - early songs covered by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan & Ian & Sylvia

Roy Forbes,

producer, singer/songwriter, broadcaster, British Columbia - 2002 - once known as the performer Bim, influenced by country and blues, member of pop trio UHF

Bernie Finkelstein

music industry exec, Ontario - 1996 - before the days of CanCon, he started his own record company - True North - responsible for the careers of Bruce Cockburn, Dan Hill, Murray McLauchlin, Carole Pope and dozens of others

I once sold Bernie some prints I had of Iskowitz, Town Rayner Coughtry etc.
We had long negotiations but finally struck a deal.
Bernie says ,"Are you happy with this deal? Is it a good deal?"
"Yes I say "It is a good deal."
"Hmm says Bernie if you are happy and I am happy, how can it be a good deal."

Colleen Peterson,

singer / songwriter, Ontario - 1996 - wrote and performed songs in Nashville and Canada - member of Quartette and very well loved

I hung out with Collen a bit and she spent a lot of time at my bar.
She took me back stage to meet Bonnie Raitt.
So much talent, so litle time, Sadly Missed.