The Schaefer Music Festival was a recurring music festival held in the summer between 1967 and 1976 at Wollman Rink in New York City's Central Park . It featured a number of notable performances.
Beginning life in 1966 as the Rheingold Central Park Music Festival , the series was sponsored by F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company, brewer of Schaefer Beer.
The F. and M. Schaefer Brewing Company took over sponsorship of the Central Park Music Festival in 1968, from Rheingold beer. The cost of the annual music festival was about $500,000, and admissions, at $1 per person in 1968, were expected to bring in $250,000 to $270,000 for the summer program, leaving a deficit, picked up by Schaefer, of more than $200,000. "Until Schaefer decided to assume sponsorship, the prospect was that the ticket price [from 1967] would have to be doubled. The $2, [Commissioner of Parks August Heckscher] said, would have been 'too expensive for a lot of New Yorkers.'"
In the 1960s, before the rise of corporate concert organizers and ticket agents, top rated bands would often play for free (especially in San Francisco) or for amounts that resulted in reasonable concert ticket prices. Just before the Schaefer Music Festival kicked off in the summer of 1968 a free concert was given in Central Park featuring the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band , three of the top acts at that time. 6,000 people "jammed into the bandstand near the [Central Park] Mall while thousands more sprawled out on the grass and under the trees."
Club owner and musician Hilly Kristal co-founded the series with producer and concert promoter Ron Delsener. Over the years a veritable Who's Who of superstars of the popular music scene performed there. Inexpensive tickets, which started at $1 in 1967 and rose to only $3 by 1976, further contributed to the event's popularity. While the capacity of the Wollman Rink was usually limited to about 6,000 to 7,000 people, it is reported that Bob Marley 's performance in 1975 had attracted about 15,000 people.
In 1976, Dr. Pepper assumed sponsorship of a Central Park concert series, renamed the Dr. Pepper Central Park Music Festival . Due to residential noise complaints, this series was moved to Pier 84 on the West Side in 1981. In 1983 Miller Beer took over sponsorship, continuing it as the 'Miller Time Concert on The Pier' until 1988.
July 5: The Young Rascals; The Jimi Hendrix Experience; Len Chandler June 27: Count Basie Orchestra ; Joe Williams June 28: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown June 29: Moby Grape ; Muddy Waters July 1: Mongo Santamaria; Hugh Masekela July 3: Mitch Ryder ; Spirit July 5: Sarah Vaughan ; Herbie Mann July 6: Nina Simone ; The People's Choice July 8: Ray Charles Orchestra & The Raelettes July 12: Pete Seeger ; Len Chandler July 13: Montego Joe Septet; Sergio Mendes & Brazil '66 July 17: Indrani's Indian Music & Dance Festival w/ Ali Akbar Khan July 20: (postponed from July 19) Indrani's Indian Music & Dance Festival w/ Ali Akbar Khan July 21: Indrani's Indian Music & Dance Festival w/ Ali Akbar Khan July 22: Chrysalis; Rosko (poetry); Theodore Bikel (filling in for Janis Ian ) July 24: Vanilla Fudge ; Ultimate Spinach July 26: Richie Havens ; (Seals and Crofts ?) July 27: Duke Ellington Orchestra August 1: B.B. King; Fats Domino August 3: Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention ; Buddy Guy August 5: Lou Rawls ; Joe Keyes August 7: The Who ; Mandala August 9: George Shearing Quintet; Amanda Ambrose; Hal Waters August 10: Flip Wilson ; Little Anthony & the Imperials August 12: Jimmy Smith ; Gloria Lynne August 14: Joni Mitchell ; Arlo Guthrie August 16: Tom Paxton ; Patrick Sky August 17: The Chambers Brothers ; Little Richard August 19: Traffic ; Tim Buckley August 21: Country Joe and the Fish ; Eric Andersen August 23: Judy Collins August 24: Herbie Mann ; Cal Tjader June 26: Benny Goodman ; Lionel Hampton June 27: Tiny Tim ; Sweetwater June 28: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown ; Rhinoceros June 30: Flip Wilson ; Modern Jazz Quartet July 2: Jerry Lee Lewis ; Pacific Gas & Electric July 5: Hugh Masekela ; Willie Bobo July 7: Miles Davis ; Thelonious Monk July 9: Blood, Sweat & Tears; Carolyn Hester July 11: Herbie Mann; Eddie Harris July 12: The Byrds ; Chuck Berry ; John Lee Hooker July 14: Jeff Beck ; Orpheus July 16: Ten Years After ; Fleetwood Mac ; Spencer Davis Group July 18: Buffy Sainte-Marie ; Cashman, Pistilli & West July 19: Cannonball Adderley ; The Sweet Inspirations July 21: Led Zeppelin ; B. B. King July 23: Joni Mitchell ; Tim Hardin July 25: Mongo Santamaría ; Cal Tjader ; Ray Barretto ; Chucho Avellanet July 26: Sly and the Family Stone ; Slim Harpo July 27: Carlos Montoya ; Paul Winter July 28: Paul Butterfield Blues Band ; Jethro Tull July 30: Buddy Rich ; Procol Harum August 1: the Beach Boys ; Neil Young August 2: Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention ; Buddy Guy August 4: Dizzy Gillespie ; Carmen McRae August 6: Little Richard ; The Checkmates, Ltd. August 8: Tom Paxton ; Gordon Lightfoot August 9: Herbie Mann; Roy Ayers ; Sonny Sharrock August 11: Arlo Guthrie ; Melanie August 15: Al Kooper ; James Cotton August 16: Lou Rawls ; Carl Holmes and The Commanders; Ruth McFadden August 18: Nina Simone ; Montego Joe August 22: Tim Buckley ; Times Square August 23: Sam & Dave; Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles June 25: Ray Charles & The Raelettes June 27: Buddy Rich & Chase June 29: The Band July 1: Les McCann & Eddie Harris ; Roberta Flack July 3: The Four Seasons July 6: Miles Davis Septet; Buddy Miles July 8: Mongo Santamaría ; Cal Tjader; Ray Barretto July 10: Tom Rush ; Melanie July 13: Ike & Tina Turner; Carly Simon ; The Voices of East Harlem July 15: Four Tops ; Eddie Holman July 17: Stan Kenton ; Four Freshmen; Chris Connor July 18: Little Richard; Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders July 20: Van Morrison ; The Byrds July 22: Arlo Guthrie July 24: Great Speckled Bird ; Ian & Sylvia; Tom Paxton July 25: La Lupe ; Joe Bataan July 27: Peggy Lee July 29: John Sebastian ; The Manhattan Transfer July 31: Iron Butterfly August 1: Dave Brubeck feat. Paul Desmond ; Dakota Staton August 3: Jethro Tull August 5: Delaney & Bonnie feat. Duane Allman and Herbie Mann; Seals & Crofts August 7: Johnny Mathis August 8: The Impressions ; Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles August 10: Judy Collins August 12: The Supremes ; The Meters August 14: The Everly Brothers ; John Denver August 15: Sam & Dave; Jam Factory August 17: Mountain August 21: The Guess Who ; Kathy McCord August 22: Fleetwood Mac ; Bloodrock ; Zephyr June 24: Nancy Wilson; Thad Jones & Mel Lewis June 28: Buddy Rich; Chase June 30: The Band ; Happy Traum ; Artie Traum July 7: Mongo Santamaría; Herbie Mann; Roy Ayers July 9: Ravi Shankar July 10: Melanie; Janey & Dennis July 12: Ella Fitzgerald ; Oscar Peterson July 14: The Supremes July 16: Poco ; Jerry Riopelle July 17: The Byrds; JF Murphy and Salt July 19: Peggy Lee July 21: The Allman Brothers Band ; Cowboy July 23: The Four Seasons; Jay and the Americans July 24: Cal Tjader; Willie Bobo ; Joe Cuba July 26: Mary Travers July 28: Roberta Flack ; Donal Leace August 2: Judy Collins August 4: Delaney & Bonnie; John Hammond August 6: Sha Na Na ; The Voices of East Harlem August 7: Dave Brubeck feat. Gerry Mulligan / Paul Desmond , Chico Hamilton August 9: Kris Kristofferson ; Janis Ian ; Chris Gantry August 11: Seatrain ; Moby Grape August 13: Robert Klein ; Tom Paxton; Bert Sommer ; Tony Joe White ; Bobby Gosh; Carol Hall ; Jonathan Edwards August 14: Les McCann ; Cannonball Adderley ; Esther Marrow August 16: Procol Harum ; Mylon LeFevre August 18: Robert Klein ; John Denver ; Dion ; Jackie Lomax ; Bonnie Raitt ; The Quinaimes Band August 20: Paul Butterfield Blues Band; James Cotton August 21: The Chambers Brothers ; Mandrill August 23: Seals & Crofts; Earl Scruggs ; Jerry Corbitt ; The Charlie Daniels Band August 25: David Steinberg ; Carly Simon August 27: The Five Satins ; Screamin' Jay Hawkins; The Coasters August 28: Little Richard; The Orioles ; The Harptones ; The Jive Five June 15: José Feliciano ; Billy Joel June 17: Canned Heat ; Dr. John the Night Tripper June 20: Badfinger ; Kindred; Michael Gately June 23: Seatrain ; Loggins & Messina; Chi Coltrane June 24: Melanie; Janey & Dennis June 30: Nina Simone; N.Y. Rock Ensemble July 7: Billy Preston ; Leo Kottke ; The Strawbs July 8: Mandrill ; Curtis Mayfield 7 p.m.; The Association / Jackie DeShannon 9:30 p.m. July 12: Edgar Winter ; Blues Project July 14: Don McLean ; Bill Withers July 15: Chambers Brothers; James Cotton Blues Band July 17: B.B. King; Alex Taylor; Merry Clayton July 19: Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77 July 21: An Evening of Gold w/ The Four Seasons; Jay & The Americans July 22: Lighthouse ; Five Dollar Shoes July 26: Arlo Guthrie; Harry Chapin July 28: J. Geils Band; Heads Hands & Feet July 29: J. Geils Band; Heads Hands & Feet July 30: Sha Na Na ; Tiny Alice ; Captain Beyond Aug. 2: Ella Fitzgerald ; Herbie Mann Aug. 4: Bobby Darin ; Ace Trucking Company Aug 5: Mahavishnu Orchestra ; Taj Mahal Aug. 7: Savoy Brown ; Malo Aug 9: Peggy Lee Aug. 11: Quicksilver Messenger Service; Bull Angus; Pure Food & Drug Act Aug. 12: Tom Rush ; David Blue ; Pamela Polland Aug. 14: Slade and Looking Glass played, Marc Bolan of T-Rex being ill. Aug. 16: Bette Midler ; Gunhill Road ; Moogy & The Rhythm Kings Aug. 18: The Byrds; Jim Dawson Aug. 19: Blood, Sweat & Tears; Chris Smither ; Orphan Aug. 21: The Doors ; Flo & Eddie Aug. 23: The Kinks ; Orleans Aug. 25: Poco Aug. 26: Poco Aug. 28: James Gang ; Ruth Copeland ; David Bromberg Aug. 30: Richie Havens ; Goose Creek Symphony Sept. 1: Ginger Baker ; Buddy Miles Sept. 2: Ginger Baker; Buddy Miles June 20: Bill Cosby ; Little Anthony & the Imperials June 22: Blues Project Reunion; Roche Sisters June 23: Lee Michaels ; Terry Reid June 25: King Crimson ; Jo Jo Gunne June 29: Quicksilver Messenger Service; Malo June 30: Chambers Brothers; Sons of Champlin July 6: Blood, Sweat & Tears; The Section July 7: John Sebastian July 9: Ruben and the Jets ; Deodato ; Calhoon (Mott the Hoople was originally scheduled to play on this date) July 11: Black Oak Arkansas ; Mason Proffit July 13: Richie Havens; Jimmie Spheeris July 14: Rod McKuen July 16: Blue Öyster Cult ; Andy Pratt July 18: Erroll Garner ; Buddy Rich & Orchestra July 20: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons; Jay and the Americans July 21: Marshall Tucker Band (Canned Heat and Wet Willie were originally scheduled to play on this date) July 23: Ray Barretto; Machito & Orchestra with Graciela ; Willie Colón July 25: Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77 July 27: Judy Collins July 28: Cheech & Chong; Melissa Manchester July 30: B.B. King; James Cotton Blues Band August 1: TV Show, w/ the Eagles ; John Sebastian; Sly and the Family Stone ; The Temptations , and Melissa Manchester August 2: TV Show, w/ the Eagles; John Sebastian; Sly and the Family Stone; The Temptations, and Melissa Manchester August 3: José Feliciano ; Leo Kottke August 4: Focus ; Elephant's Memory (Leo Kottke was originally scheduled to play on this date) August 6: James Gang ; Tim Buckley; Ralph McTell (7:30 PM show) August 6: Leslie West's Wild West Show w/ Mitch Ryder ; Mitch Ryder & Band (10 PM show) (10cc was originally scheduled to play on this date) August 8: Helen Reddy ; Robert Klein; Buzzy Linhart August 10: Mary Travers; Dion August 11: Wishbone Ash ; Jimmy and Vella Cameron; Joe Walsh and Barnstorm (It's a Beautiful Day was originally scheduled to play on this date) August 13: Gladys Knight & the Pips; Blue Hare August 15: Earl Scruggs and Revue ; David Bromberg ; Doc Watson (The Everly Brothers were originally scheduled to play on this date, but they had split up in July) August 17: Mahavishnu Orchestra ; Casey Kelly August 18: Mahavishnu Orchestra; Wet Willie (The Marshall Tucker Band was originally scheduled to play on this date) August 20: Robin Trower ; Mark-Almond ; Foghat August 24: Bonnie Raitt ; Maria Muldaur ; John P. Hammond August 24: Muddy Waters ; Bobby Womack & Peace ; Chick Corea August 27: Buffy Sainte-Marie ; Chip Taylor August 29: Charlie Daniels; Sha Na Na (7 PM and 9:30 PM shows; Sha Na Na only at 9:30 show) August 31: Poco; David Blue September 1: Poco; David Blue September 5: The Edgar Winter Group (The Eagles were originally scheduled to play on this date) September 7: Buddy Miles Express; The Incredible Bongo Band (Billy Preston and Labelle were originally scheduled to play on this date) September 8: Dave Mason June 12: Benny Goodman and his Sextet June 14: The Original Righteous Brothers ; Sam & Dave (7 PM and 9:30 PM) June 15: An Evening with Melanie (7 PM and 9:30 PM) June 17: James Gang; Maggie Bell ; Duke Williams & The Extremes June 19: Steeleye Span , Bonnie Raitt w/ John Hall, Howdy Moon (John Sebastian was originally scheduled to play on this date) June 21: Two Generations of Brubeck: Dave Brubeck, Darius Brubeck, Chris Brubeck, Danny Brubeck; John P. Hammond June 22: Todd Rundgren 's Utopia (w/ Special Guest Chaka Khan ) June 24: Mahavishnu Orchestra June 25: Dionne Warwicke; Barry Manilow ; Jane Olivor , likely billed then as Janie Olivor June 28: Herbie Mann & The Family of Mann; Carlos Potato & His Bata Cubano; Joe Bataan June 29: Mandrill; Labelle July 1: King Crimson ; Golden Earring July 8: ZZ Top ; Brownsville Station July 10: Bobby Womack and Peace ; Bloodstone ; Minnie Ripperton (Earth, Wind & Fire was originally scheduled to play on this date) July 12: Robert Klein; Melissa Manchester; Jim Dawson July 13: José Feliciano; Freddie Prinze ; Druick & Lorange July 15: Souther Hillman Furay Band; Leo Kottke July 17: America ; Ian Matthews July 19: Linda Ronstadt ; Martin Mull (Jesse Colin Young was originally scheduled to play on this date) July 20: Tom Rush; Janis Ian July 22: B.B. King; Bobby Blue Bland July 24: Harry Chapin July 26: Poco; Snafu July 27: Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tim Buckley July 29: Dave Mason ; Premiata Forneria Marconi August 3: Anne Murray ; Bruce Springsteen ; Brewer & Shipley (Boz Scaggs was originally scheduled to play on this date) August 9: Uriah Heep ; Manfred Mann August 10: David Bromberg August 12: Marshall Tucker Band August 17: Don McLean August 23: Peter Frampton ; Snafu August 31: Premiata Forneria Marconi September 3: John Sebastian September 4: Foghat ; Bad Company September 7: Rory Gallagher ; Aerosmith ===1975===
June 18: Bob Marley & The Wailers June 20: Journey June 21: Montrose ; Leslie West ; Thee Image June 25: Mirabai; Jim Dawson; Robert Klein June 28 Earl Scruggs Revue; Emmylou Harris and Hot Band July 2: Dave Mason; Pousette-Dart Band July 5: Blood, Sweat & Tears July 9: Bee Gees w/ Revelation July 14: The Marshall Tucker Band July 16: Three Dog Night July 21: Brownsville Station ; Slade July 23: Hot Tuna July 27: James Gang; Peter Frampton July 28: Return to Forever : Chick Corea , Al Di Meola , Stanley Clarke , Lenny White July 30: Poco August 9: Judy Collins August 13: The J. Geils Band ; Ruby Starr ; Roomful of Blues August 16: The Charlie Daniels Band ; Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen August 24: America August 25: Utopia; Todd Rundgren August 29: Aerosmith; Ted Nugent September 5: Miles Davis September 12: Melissa Manchester; Barry Manilow September 13: John Sebastian; Lori Lieberman ; California English September 14: Roy Buchanan ; Forest Green; NRBQ June 18: Gentle Giant ; Starcastle June 19: Jesse Colin Young ; Aztec Two Step June 23: Atlanta Rhythm Section ; The Charlie Daniels Band June 28: Flight; Sons of Champlin ; Shakti & John McLaughlin July 3: Cheech & Chong; Utopia July 9: Patti Smith July 12: B.B. King July 21: Donovan ; Giba July 26: Nils Lofgren ; Rick Derringer July 30: Gerard ; Kingfish feat. Bob Weir August 2: Grinderswitch ; The Marshall Tucker Band August 14: John Hammond; The Cate Brothers ; Outlaws September 1: Diane Scanlon; Gary Wright ; Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush ; Johnny & Edgar Winter September 3: Foghat; Diane Scanlon September 4: David Bromberg