Artie Kornfeld
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Artie Kornfeld (born Arthur Lawrence Kornfeld, 9 September 1942, Brooklyn, New York) is an American musician, record producer and music executive.
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[edit] Early years
The son of Irving, a police officer, and his wife Shirley, Kornfeld lived in Levittown, New York as a child, though later his family would move frequently. He started playing music in 1956, when he got his first guitar, and was signed to a recording contract at age 16. He attended Adelphi College and American College, and at the latter he became friends with Cass Elliot.
Later, he recorded demos in the Brill Building, and in 1962, co-wrote "I Adore Him" by The Angels, which went to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was during this time that Kornfeld met Jan Berry of Jan and Dean and co-wrote all but one song on their album, as well as "Dead Man's Curve," which was recorded by Jan and Dean. He also co-wrote, with Steve Duboff, The Cowsills' song "The Rain, the Park and Other Things."
Kornfeld produced "6 O'Clock News" for the group The Hopeful in 1966 which was released on the Mercury label, catalog number 72637. This tune was a soft protest song adapted from "America The Beautiful", by Kornfield.
As a performer, Kornfeld and Duboff were in a rock band named Changin' Times. They co-wrote and recorded the song "Pied Piper." A cover version by Crispian St. Peters was a number one hit in 1964, and in 1983 Kornfeld produced another version by Felony that was a minor hit. On tour the Changin Times opened for Sonny and Cher.
[edit] Capitol Records
At age 21, Kornfeld became the youngest vice president at Capitol Records, after being A&R director of Mercury Records. Before and after Woodstock 1969, Kornfeld as a writer, producer, manager, and promoter earned over 100 Gold and Platinum discs. By the age of 24, Kornfeld had written over 75 Billboard charted songs and was on over 150 albums.
[edit] Woodstock
- Main article: Woodstock Festival
Kornfeld, along with John Roberts, Joel Rosenman and Michael Lang, planned and produced the Woodstock Rock Festival of 1969. Kornfeld met Lang in 1968. Lang managed a band called Train, and brought them to Capitol in an attempt to get them signed to a contract. The two became friends, and Lang moved in with Kornfeld and his wife.
The pair came up with the idea for a recording studio in Woodstock, because the area was becoming a popular destination for artists, and many musicians were coming to the area. They also wanted to plan a rock concert and cultural festival.
