Artie Kornfeld, Co-Founder, The Woodstock Music & Arts Festival, 1969; Songwriter; Record Label Executive. Revered worldwide as “The Father of Woodstock,” Artie is one of the most influential and respected promoters in the history of popular culture and music. Conceived by Artie and Co-Founder Michael Lang as “Three Days of Peace and Music,” Woodstock grew into an unprecedented peaceful love-fest of more than 400,000 passionate music lovers.
From his early days as a young hit songwriter at the Brill Building in New York, to his hiring at 23 years old as the first VP of Rock at Capital Records, Artie has built a legendary career as composer, promoter, producer, artist manager, radio show host, and record label executive. He’s ridden in limousines with Paul McCartney and burnt the midnight oil (and then some) with Jimi Hendrix and most every rock legend that we know and love. Artie has worked on over 100 platinum projects, amassed 12 BMI songwriter awards, and contributed to the recording careers of such artists Tracy Chapman, Survivor, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, Depeche Mode, Jan & Dean, Neil Young, KISS, Tom Petty, Aerosmith, Asia, Quiet Riot, Joe Cocker, ZZ Top, Santana, Melissa Etheridge, Debby Harry, and more.
More than 50 years after Woodstock 1969, Artie continues to work tirelessly to promote his eternal message of music, peace and equality throughout the world: “My goals are the same as they were over 50 years ago — to affect social change, stop the wars and make great music. The only thing that has changed is the delivery mechanism. You can’t download peace – but you can download the message and that’s where it all starts.”
A close personal friend of the late Dick Wagner, Artie is honored to help bring the joys of music to hospitalized children and pediatric patient care facilities