A co-creator of the 1969 Woodstock music festival passed away Saturday in New York.
Michael Lang, 77, passed away from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to The Associated Press.
Michael Lang, the concert impresario who helped conceive the landmark, generation-defining 1969 music festival Woodstock, has died at age 77. https://t.co/2Ua14TSXre
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) January 9, 2022
“He was absolutely an historic figure, and also a great guy,” said Michael Pagnotta, spokesperson for Lang and his family, reported the AP. (RELATED: REPORT: Officials Release Country Music Superstar’s Cause Of Death)
“Michael Lang was a divine architect of unity & harmony. He gave birth to Woodstock, the festival that manifested 3 glorious days of peace & freedom. He will no doubt be orchestrating another celestial event in Heaven,” guitarist Carlos Santana said, according to Rolling Stone.
“Thank you Maestro. You and Bill Graham are now united in the light of our divinity and are supreme love,” Santana added.
Lang was only 24 when he helped to create the iconic music festival, reported Rolling Stone.
“Woodstock came at a really dark moment in America,” Lang said of the festival in 2009, Rolling Stone reported. “An unpopular war, a government that was unresponsive, lots of human rights issues – things were starting to edge toward violence for people to make their points. And along came Woodstock, which was this moment of hope.”
Lang went on to be a manager for Rickie Lee Jones and Joe Cocker, reported Rolling Stone. He also founded Just Sunshine Records.
Lang attempted to commemorate the 50 year anniversary of Woodstock with a three-day music festival in 2019, but it was ultimately canceled.