Artie Kornfeld

Background

Kornfeld was born in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He is the son of a New York City policeman and his wife (Irving & Shirley).

Education

Brought up in the early 50s in Levittown, New York, Kornfeld"s family constantly moved and he attended six different schools. He later attended Adelphi College and American University where he would further his music career.

Career

He is best known as the music promoter for the Festival held in 1969. He is also known for his collaborations with Artie Kaplan. Musical Kornfeld started playing symphonic trumpet but he loved the rock music he was hearing.

In his early teens when the family had moved to Carolina he got a job at the Charlotte Coliseum selling soda popular so he could catch acts such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Fats Domino.

Kornfeld got his first guitar in 1956. Some time later he performed with The Skyliners singing backup and on stage with Dion and the Belmonts.

Kornfeld became the vice president of Capitol Records in his early 20s, making him the youngest to hold the position. By 1966, Kornfeld had written over 75 Billboard charted songs and participated in over 150 albums.

In 1969, Kornfeld left Capitol records to co-create The Music & Arts Festival, with Mike Language.

Kornfeld along with Steve Duboff teamed as the People’s/Folk group the Changin" Times. They wrote and recorded "The Pied Piper" in 1965, a song that was a hit for Crispian Saint Peters and were on tour with Sonny and Cher during the 1965 "I Got You Babe" tour. Kornfeld was also the co-writer of "Dead Manitoba"s Curve" by January and Dean and was the co-writer and producer of the 1967 hit by the Cowsills "The Rain, The Park & Other Things".

Kornfeld, Language, Joel Rosenman, and John P. Roberts through Ventures made the 1969 music festival a possibility.

Kornfeld played a big role in helping save the site from being built upon when the Max Yasgur farm was sold. Much of the historical documentation of is supplied by the acts featured in the film and it was Kornfeld who had to convince all of them to appear.

He is in the movie frequently because backstage he was solely in charge of getting the performers to sign what were basically blank contracts prior to going on stage. He also hired director Michael Wadleigh to shoot the film.

Kornfeld has spent 40 years speaking to schools, organizations, and universities on the true meaning behind He has done over 5,000 radio interviews and hosts his own show, "The Spirit Show with Artie Kornfeld" on artistfirst.com.

Achievements

• Kornfeld was also responsible for putting the Academy Award winning Warner Brothers documentary together.

Membership

lieutenant was at the latter where he met Cass Elliot who would later be one of the members of the Mamas and the Papas.