Mar y Sol Festival

The Mar y Sol Festival was a Woodstock-like music festival that took place in Manatí, Puerto Rico, on April 1–3, 1972. It was held on 420 acres (1.7 km²) of countryside by Los Tubos beach in Vega Baja on the north shore of the island.

The original plans started in early 1971 with different producers and a different list of performers. The original name was "Fiesta del Sol" (Party of the Sun). Due to difficulties, including attempts by the Puerto Rican government to stop this festival from happening, the plans ended up in the hands of promoter Alex Cooley (Atlanta International Pop Festivals, Music Midtown Festival).

The planned new date for the festival (April 1–3) was a religious weekend in Puerto Rico. After promotional posters had been printed, news of the Puerto Rican government's determination to stop the festival made some bands decide not to participate. New artist names were added to the performers' list during the last days before the festival took place.

In general many critics considered this festival a disaster. Several accidental deaths, a murder, rapes, etc. But New York Times reporter Les Ledbetter printed a column on April 9 entitled "It was a success -- ask the people"^[1]

A warrant was issued to arrest promoter Alex Cooley, who avoided arrest by leaving the island before the festival was over.^[2]

Music album

The Mar y Sol 2-LP set on Atco Records (1972) is a vinyl document of parts of the festival.

The album features well-known artists such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Dr. John, Long John Baldry and The Allman Brothers Band, as well as up-and-coming artists such as The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin, John Nitzinger, Osibisa, Jonathan Edwards and Cactus.

The album has never been issued on a Compact Disc.

Album track listing

Side 1

1. The J. Geils Band - Looking For A Love – 5:16
2. The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin - The Noonward Race – 13:20
3. Dr. John - Wang Dang Doodle – 5:10

Side 2

1. B. B. King - Why I Sing The Blues – 6:12
2. Osibisa - Y Sharp – 8:34 - labeled as "Do You Know"
3. Cactus - Bedroom Mazurka – 5:00

Side 3

1. The Allman Brothers Band - Ain't Wastin' Time No More – 4:59
2. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Take A Pebble/Lucky Man – 7:33
3. Nitzinger - Texas Blues/Jelly Roll – 9:18

Side 4

1. Jonathan Edwards - Sometimes In The Morning – 4:15
2. Jonathan Edwards - Train Of Glory – 3:35
3. John Baldry - Bring My Baby Back – 6:22
4. Herbie Mann - Respect Yourself – 9:22

Although not on the album, an as-yet-unknown Billy Joel electrified the crowd and got a major boost for his career.^[3] Other performers not on the album include Alice Cooper, Dave Brubeck and Rod Stewart.^[4] The group Bloodrock was hired to play, but for some odd reason was paid by the promoter not to play! The complete Emerson, Lake & Palmer gig was released in 2007 on the From the Beginning box set.

Young artist Joseph Lee Hooker performed two sets, including the song "Mar y Sol", which he wrote during the festival and was taped for local radio stations as a festival theme song. Hooker's second set replaced Black Sabbath, who had been scheduled to perform but could not make it to the site because of gridlock on the roads.^[5] The guitarist was given the dubious responsibility of notifying the crowd that Black Sabbath would not be playing, and the crowd almost rioted.

References

1. ^ Les Ledbetter, "It Was a Success -Ask the People" New York Times
2. ^ Bill Dial, Remembering the Mar Y Sol Festival
3. ^ Hank Bordowitz, Billy Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young Man pp. 59
4. ^ Mar y Sol Festival List & info of bands
5. ^ http://www.marysol-festival.com/festival_list_black_sabbath.htm

External links

• Mar y Sol festival website
• Alex Cooley official website