Music Blahg

Detroit Musicians At Woodstock? Here Are Three.

August 14, 2009
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So how many Detroiters performed at Woodstock, which took place 40 years ago this weekend?

We recently received an e-mail from percussionist Muruga who noted that (news to us) he was there with folk singer Tim Hardin and that he can be heard with Hardin for one song on the new Woodstock: 40 Years on Back to Yasgur’s Farm six-disc CD set from Rhino.

And on his MySpace page, the former Steve Booker explains that it was at the festival that he “met Swami Satchidananda who gave him the name Muruga. After Woodstock, Muruga studied under Swami Satchidananda and also recorded on a 1969 meditation record with him.”

We recall that the late pianist Teddy Harris Jr. and bassist Rod Hicks were both there with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Harris, an elder of the Detroit jazz scene and a prominent Motown musician who passed away in 2005, was Butterfield’s musical director at the time, commuting between Detroit and Butterfield’s place near the festival.

When we talked to Harris for a profile in 2002, he tried to convey the magnitude of the whole thing, including flying in by helicopter over the traffic-jammed roads. And he told us about the scene from the stage: “As far as the eye could see in any direction was just a mass of people. I’ve never seen a demonstration of love like that in my entire life.”

Hicks told us about looking out at night and seeing that audience estimated at 300,000 or more. With the darkness dotted with fires, he felt he was looking at the “biggest Indian pow-wow in the world.”

We’re waiting to hear whether Muruga has any more Woodstock memories to share with us. Anyone out there have Woodstock memories to share or know of other Detroit musicians who partook in the scene?

  • Fr stevenbookvich

    playing with and making a hit record Blueberry jam with of Detroit’s first rock bands the Low Rocks, showed me I can do it, and follow my dream.

     Playing woodstock showed me theat the dream was bigger than I thought and that God’s hands were at work in all we do.

     To know the creator is the bigest thing we can do,  beyond imagination, to know the source of all creation GOD , is much more than a hit record. 

    Thus the people came together at Woodstock for Peace music and truth. 

    Playing for a million people made it easy to see that we the people have a powerful voice. 

     Swami satchidananda, who I met there Ultimately lead me to this understanding in a deeper way in my own orthodox faith. 

    His yoga teacings of deep meditation on the uncreated inner light, Showed me the true light of my orthodox christian faith and  lead me to the priest hood. 

    This expierence Totaly enriched my Life, Art and Music to Live and Co creativite in Spirit, a priestly Life, that we all can live beyond titles. 

    A life walking in the light of the ONE Great Spirit, GOD source of all.

     GOD bless all priest steven muruga booker the least

  • Fr stevenbookvich

    I am happy and proud to have brought a bit of Detroit music to woodstock through my drumming with tTim Harden there,. Now a part of Woodstoch is with me in Detroit and Ann Arbor Michigan