Michael Lang (producer)

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Michael Lang (born December 11, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York) is a musical concert promoter, producer and artistic manager who is best known as the co-creator of the Woodstock Music & Art Festival in 1969.

1 Biography
2 Just Sunshine Records
3 Current
4 Resources
5 References

[edit] Biography

In 1967 Lang left NYU and moved to Coconut Grove Florida to open a head shop. In 1968 after promoting a series of concert events in the Miami area, Lang produced the '"Miami Pop Festival", probably the largest music festival of its time. It drew 80,000 people over two days with such acts as Jimi Hendrix, Mothers of Invention, John Lee Hooker Arthur Brown,and Blue Cheer. After moving to Woodstock, NY and meeting Artie Kornfeld in New York, the two developed the concept for a major festival event to celebrate the 60s social movements and planned to open a recording studio in the town of Woodstock. With Kornfeld and partners John Roberts and Joel Rosenman, Lang set into motion the Woodstock festival, which was held on Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969.

As such, Michael Lang was featured in many scenes of the 1970 Academy Award winning documentary film Woodstock : 3 Days of Peace & Music. Lang also produced Woodstock 94 with partners John Roberts and Joel Rosenman and co-producer John Scher and Woodstock 99 With John Scher and Ossie Kilkenny. MIchael was executive producer of Wes Anderson's "Bottle Rocket".

[edit] Just Sunshine Records

Lang owned and operated Just Sunshine Records, which produced and released more than 40 albums by such diverse musical artists as Billy Joel, Betty Davis and Mississippi Fred McDowell. Lang also managed several successful international recording artists, including Joe Cocker, Ricki Lee Jones, Willie DeVille, Tarkan, and Spanish recording artists El Ultimo de la Fila.

[edit] Current

The Michael Lang Organization encompasses live event production, film production and artist management. Current projects include A 50th anniversery event for Lincoln Center featuring the French Theater company Royal Delux, A 40th anniversary event for Woodstock, a movie version of the cult classic novel, "The Master and Margarita" and theater projects in Turkey and South Korea. Additionally, with his partners in Woodstock Ventures, Lang is developing future projects which include a Broadway musical based on Woodstock the musical and a Woodstock lifestyle brand.

In August of 2005, MLO produced sold out Festival event for Heineken at Randall’s Island called Amsterjam which featured mash ups from artists such as Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Wyclef Jean.

MLO also has worked with the following artists: Outkast, Prince, Missy Elliott, Snoop Dog, Steely Dan, The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, Shakira, Madonna, Norah Jones, Marc Anthony, Twista, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Kid Rock, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Christina Aguilera, Linkin Park, and Avril Lavigne.