Many of the largest stars in music have performed at SUNY Cortland. The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Judy Collins, Billy Joel, The Grateful Dead, The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Aerosmith, Muddy Waters and The Kinks are just a few of the legendary artists who have graced the Cortland stage. A group of alumni has formed the Musical Legacy Commemorative Project: 1960-1990 committee to ensure that this era is remembered and celebrated in conjunction with the College's Sesquicentennial.
A few ways you can get involved today:
Past Events hosted by the Musical Legacy Committee: - March 12, 7 p.m., Tom Chapin, Old Main Brown Auditorium Grammy winning singer/songwriter Tom Chapin returns to SUNY Cortland to share his remarkable musicianship and personal warmth. A gifted singer who charms audiences of all ages, the New York Times has called Chapin "one of the greatest personalities in contemporary folk music." -Nov. 1, " Good Vibrations," Noon - Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge, 7 p.m. - Corey Union Fireplace Lounge Since the 1960s, students at SUNY Cortland have been involved in planning and booking some of the hottest names in the music industry to perform on campus. In the 1960s it was Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Judy Collins and Simon and Garfunkel. Big names in the 1970s included The Grateful Dead, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, Jackson Browne and The Eagles. And the 1980s brought artists like James Taylor, The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Southside Johnny and The Kinks to campus. The panel will be offered at two different times and locations. The first, which will explore the history of SUNY Cortland’s impressive list of great concerts, will be presented as a sandwich seminar at noon in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge. The second, which will additionally focus on how student involvement in booking and managing big shows was — and continues to be — a great career builder, starts at 7 p.m. in Corey Union Fireplace Lounge. Panelists include Kevin Pristash ’85 M ’91, director of campus activities and Corey Union at SUNY Cortland; Jack Samuels ’73, professor of recreation, tourism, events and sports management at Montclair State University; Ralph Shortell ’66, retired after a nearly 30-year career in student affairs administration at Ithaca College, SUNY Brockport and Tompkins Cortland Community College; and Thomas E. Matthews, former associate dean of leadership and service and director of the GOLD Program at SUNY Geneseo.. - Oct. 6, 10 a.m., “Dream On, Dream Until Your Dreams Come True, ” Corey Union across from The Union Station coffee shop (basement level). The panel is free and open to the public. Complimentary coffee will be available at 9:30 a.m.Billy Joel, The Grateful Dead, Jackson Browne, Judy Collins and The Eagles all performed early in their careers at SUNY Cortland, and they are still performing to sold out crowds in 2018! Join us as we chronicle SUNY Cortland’s storied musical past and its role in launching legendary entertainment careers. Learn from musicians, agents and promoters who were involved in that golden era of campus concerts about entrepreneurial survival through passion and staying relevant. Discover what success looks like for musicians and artist managers today and how you can benefit from their wisdom. Press Release - July 14, 10 a.m., Cortland's Great Music History, Corey Union, Room 208 (A featured Classes Without Quizzes program at Alumni Reunion 2018) Come and reminisce about an important era in the history of SUNY Cortland, and one that is being memorialized by the Cortland Concert Commemorative Project. An era that not only brought fantastic entertainment to the campus but created a musical and entertainment legacy for the College at a time when uncertainty of students futures existed due to the Vietnam War. Dr. Jack Samuels, Professor of Sports, Events and Tourism at Montclair State University (Class of '72/'73) will be on hand to tell the somewhat untold and unknown tales of how Billy Joel began his career at Cortland and how the Grateful Dead concert became a reality and the fact that it still holds the record for the largest indoor public assembly ever held in Cortland. Also, on hand to discuss the significance of the era via Skype will be Dr. Ken Barclay, our student activities director during several of these significant years. Dr. Barclay has had a distinguished teaching and administrative career at Cal Poly in San Louis Obispo, CA. after leaving SUNY Cortland. Come and share your stories and memories of these great times at Cortland. -July 14, 6 p.m., Brews and Barbecue with Guest DJ Joe McInerney '70, Parks Alumni House, Registration closed 6/30. The annual Reunion Brews and Barbecue event has a special upgrade this year. Guest DJ Joe McInerney '70 will spin tunes from the great bands that performed at SUNY Cortland. Be the first to name the song, the band and the year they performed on campus and win prizes! A fun way to kick off the year-long performance and lecture series the committee has planned.