Mar y sol festival

The Festival

MAR Y SOL (Sea & Sun) was a Woodstock-like music festival that took place in Puerto Rico in 1972.

The original plans started in early 1971 with different producers, bands and even a different name. The original name was "Fiesta del Sol" (Party of the Sun). Due to attempts from the Puerto Rican government to stop this festival from happening and other difficulties the plans ended up in the hands of promoter Alex Cooley (Atlanta International Pop Festivals, Music Midtown Festival).

The fact that the new date for the festival (April 1 - 3) was a very religious weekend in Puerto Rico, the government was even more determined to stop this festival. The news were everywhere and even reached some bands who decided not to participate in the festival even though their names where already in promotional posters. At the last minute new bands were added.

In general this festival was considered a disaster. Several accidental deaths, a murder, rapes, etc.

There was a warrant to arrest Alex Cooley. He had to escape the island even before the festival was over.

Music Album

The Mar Y Sol 2-LP set on Atco Records (1972) is a vinyl document of a rock festival which took place in Puerto Rico in 1972.

In the early 1970s, record companies would release live albums sometimes featuring many lesser known acts: this record features such well-known rock stars as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Dr. John, Long John Baldry, The Allman Brothers Band, as well as lesser known up-and-coming artists such as The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin, Nitzinger, Osibisa, Jonathan Edwards (the Atco/capricorn artist who had a hit with "Sunshine" earlier in 1971), and Cactus.

Side 1
#J. Geils Band - Looking For A Love – 5:16
#The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John Mclaughlin - The Noonward Race – 13:20
#Dr. John - Wang Dang Doodle – 5:10Side 2
#B.B. King - Why I Sing The Blues – 6:12
#Osibisa - Do You Know – 8:34
#Cactus - Bedroom Mazurka – 5:00Side 3
#The Allman Brothers Band - Ain't Wastin' Time No More – 4:59
#Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Take A Pebble/Lucky Man – 7:33
#Nitzinger - Texas Blues/Jelly Roll – 9:18Side 4
#Jonathan Edwards - Sometimes In The Morning – 4:15
#Jonathan Edwards - Train Of Glory – 3:35
#John Baldry - Bring My Baby Back – 6:22
#Herbie Mann - Respect Yourself – 9:22

* The complete Emerson, Lake & Palmer gig was released in 2007 on the "From The Beginning" Box Set (Disc five).

External links

* [http://www.marysol-festival.com/ Mar Y Sol Festival wesbite]
* [http://www.alexcooley.com/ Alex Cooley official wesbite]
* [http://www.eldiariovegabajeno.com]
* [http://www.enciclopediavegabajena.com]