Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief
The year was 1969. While everyone else was cooling off from the summer that would act as a pivotal moment for music and the core of the counterculture generation, Western, which was then known as the Oregon College of Education, was still heating up. Likely inspired by Woodstock’s three days of peace and music that took place just a month before, from the start of Fall Term, the Wolves were ready to keep the beat going.
A number of concerts took place within that academic year. Headlining at Homecoming was the Grass Roots. Between the years 1967 to 1972, the Grass Roots set a record by being on the Billboard charts for 307 straight weeks, according to their website, the-grassroots.com. At the time, the band was comprised of Creed Bratton — who is now known for his work as a character by the same name on “The Office,” Rick Coonce, Warren Entner and Rob Grill. In the late ‘60s and into the ‘70s, they released many hit singles, including “Midnight Confessions” and “Wait a Million Years.” This was the band that would kick off a series of concerts that would only be remembered by the yearbooks.
Also appearing in 1969 and the year following were bands such as “The Happenings,” which is known for their hit “See You in September,” and is also known for their member David Libert, who went on to manage artists such as The Runaways and Alice Cooper; Gary Lewis & the Playboys, which is known for their hit “The Diamond Ring,” and is also known due to their frontman, Gary Lewis, being the son of comedian Jerry Lewis; and, to top it off, was the Cowsills — a band comprised of all family members, who, according to their website, cowsill.com, were the inspiration behind “The Partridge Family.”
Exactly 50 years later, the year is 2019 — and Western is ready to bring the music back to campus. On May 23, Student Activities Board will be hosting “BonnaWOU,” a play on the annual Bonnaroo festival. Spearheaded by SAB member Helen Goodyear, the event was brought about for a specific reason.
“As far as anybody that I have talked to can remember, they don’t remember seeing a concert on campus. And I would love to bring that back,” Goodyear said. “I want to hit it with a bang … I want people to remember that this is a Western thing.”
To do this, Goodyear decided to look locally for some bands who might be interested. And in asking, what she found was that not only were these bands interested, they’ve been waiting.
“Every single one of them was like, ‘this is something that should’ve happened a long time ago,’” Goodyear added.
Although she had several options, Goodyear rounded her choices down to just three bands that she felt would best relate with the styles Western would enjoy: Jimmy Wolfson, The Ferenjis and Chromatic Colors. All of these are local bands, all have ties to Western and all were more than willing to help out. But aside from the fact that Goodyear knew students would enjoy these bands, she chose them for a few other reasons.
“I want to show (Western) that this is part of our identity as students. This is part of our identity as Oregonians. This is a part of us, and it’s a community that doesn’t get showcased that often. And I want to expose people to that and I want people to try something a little bit new,” Goodyear explained.
To make an event like this happen, there are a number of obstacles that Goodyear has had to cross — the largest being budget.
“When the budget was allocated at the beginning of the year, nobody was thinking that this was going to happen. And then I came in half way through year, and I was like, ‘Okay. We’re doing this,’” said Goodyear. Using only the small amount she was given, she was able to find “the cheapest options and the best quality options,” they could possibly get, as she explained. But due to her connections with the music department and those she knows, as well as her support from the rest of SAB, she was able to pull it off.
As for what students can expect, Goodyear was very transparent on her goals.
“I want people to be able to lay out on the grass, and bring hammocks,” Goodyear said, “If they feel they want to, I want them to be able to get up and dance. I want them to be able to enjoy the music however they want.”
The event is free to anyone interested in a night of music and relaxation. Running from 5-9 p.m., it will be located in the Grove. For any questions, contact Helen Goodyear at hgoodyear16@wou.edu.
Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu
Photos courtesy of WOU Archives
