Letters

More Musical Memories

I enjoyed the flashback of Palestra concerts provided by Jim Mandelaro (“Dance Hall Days,” Spring 2023).

I would mention that one of the finest assemblies of musicians to ever grace that stage was “Chick Corea and Return to Forever,” which played on November 20, 1975. Along with Chick, it included Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, and Lenny White: four astonishing jazz fusion powerhouses.

It is incredible that some of the acts who went on to fill major stadiums (and still do!) could be seen in such an intimate and fun venue. Of note, great music on campus was not limited to the Palestra, as I remember terrific shows by both Roy Buchanan and Nils Lofgren in the wonderful acoustics of Strong.

Finally, one of the great offerings of the UR is the opportunity for students to produce and manage numerous activities on campus, including the concerts. Some of us learned as much outside of class as we did inside!

Denis O’Leary ’78
Cutchogue, New York

I loved the article about musical groups in the Palestra, but I was sad that the two concerts I most remember were missing. I’m not sure whether they were in the Palestra, but I think they were put on by the then Outside Speakers Committee. Either in 1964 or 1965, Duke Ellington, and then a second concert with Harry Belafonte, Nipsey Russell, and Nina Simone together.

I got to dance with Duke Ellington, and Harry Belafonte held my arm while we were getting organized. I didn’t wash that sweater for a long time.

I hope that the records of those events can be found. I think that the organizer may have been Dave Bantleon ’68. Thanks for the memories.

Sharon Goodman Freeman ’68
Burnaby, British Columbia

Regarding the article about concerts at the Palestra, one that I’ll never forget was a surprise appearance in the late ’60s by The Cyrkle, of “The Younger Girl” and “Red Rubber Ball” top 40 fame.

While we were scheduled to see a real headliner—The Four Tops? I don’t remember—for one reason or another they didn’t show and at the last minute The Cyrkle took their place. While known as a “bubble gum” group, these guys really put on some show. They showcased their versatility by playing and covering everything from doo wop to progressive rock. And they were terrific.

The concert was made even more sweet by the fact that we, as a “sophisticated audience,” weren’t expecting anything. Our disappointment became joy.

I understand that they’re still together making commercial jingles and doing studio work. Their drummer just turned 80.

I’ll never forget that concert. Maybe it was the surprise that made it so memorable.

Michael Kaufman ’70, ’72 (MS)
Armonk, New York

I am happy to see that the correct history regarding the Dead and Airplane is finally out there. Only thing to add is that Grace Slick stayed in the Field House and did not come on stage. As a three-year member of the Concert Committee, some memories:

BB King show: I went up to the dressing room (aka, the basketball team locker room) and saw him sitting there with a plate of Smitty’s on his lap. I said “someone got you Smitty’s!” Without missing a beat, he asked me if I wanted some.

Sha Na Na show: Up in the dressing room again after the show, Bowser, while still in character, put my cochair Dave Markowitz ’71 up against the wall and asked “Hey Dave, where’s our money?”

The perennial requests by Jan Zuckerman ’71 and Joe Lobell ’71 for us to book Van Morrison.

Jerry Newman ’71
Parent: 2017
West Bloomfield, Michigan

Many thanks for your fun article on concerts at the Palestra. I was at U of R from 1966 to 1970 and attended Simon & Garfunkel (sat on the Palestra floor right in front of them) and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. However, missing from the article’s list of concerts during those years were two other, very notable ones that were actually cosponsored by, of all entities, the campus fraternity I belonged to: Chi Phi.

Those two concerts were The Lovin’ Spoonful, which featured two drummers and drum sets pounding out “Summer in the City” and Mountain, with Leslie West, featuring the song “Mississippi Queen” and easily the loudest concert I’ve ever been to. Five members of my fraternity were on the University’s Social Activities Board, which secured and arranged Palestra concerts, hence Chi Phi’s inside connection to even more great rock and roll concerts there.

Part of our fraternity’s concert deal was that we, as fraternity brothers and pledges, had to clean up after the concert. That was a very large task after the Mountain concert, including safely removing one very passed out student via shopping cart from the venue.

GREAT memories!

Geoff Jacobs ’70
San Marcos, California

I was the chair of the Campus Program Board from 1993 to 1995 (I think), and we brought in numerous performers to campus. The two that stand out the most for me:

They Might Be Giants: December 1995. It was a Monday night, near the end of the semester. Already cold outside and this was a band that Eric Cohen ’95, one of our longtime officers, had been trying to get for years. It wasn’t a packed house, but that meant that the stands had local students doing coordinated dances on the side which only added to the fun for those of us on the floor.

Living Colour: Winter 1994? It was after their album Stain. Such entertainers! Of course they closed with “Cult of Personality,” but I most remember their song “Bi”—with fog and lighting effects was mystical, sensual, and highlighted my early years learning about LGBT (and future, subsequent acronyms) culture.

Thanks for bringing back some great memories.

Kaleb Michaud ’96, ’97 (T5)
Omaha, Nebraska

Thanks for the article about rock groups in the Palestra. I have a couple memories that might be of interest.

1) Several weeks before Blood, Sweat & Tears arrived, someone painted some wonderful murals and advertisements in the tunnels beneath the quad. I used those tunnels a lot and thought the murals were great. I only wish I had gone to see BS&T. They became one of my favorite groups from that time, and I played their music a lot as a DJ on WRUR.

2) You did not mention Stevie Wonder—then known as Little Stevie Wonder. He appeared in the Palestra and did a wonderful show. I think that was likely in the winter of ’68–’69 because I lived in Hoeing at the time, and I think I remember just crossing the street to get in. This was before a lot of his best-known songs were recorded, but it was a wonderful show.

3) Also at the Palestra was a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. It may have been a one-man show, but I’m not sure, and I don’t know who performed it. That must have been a bit later since the album was released in 1970.

Seeing Stevie Wonder and Superstar were really life-changing for me.

I came from a small rural town; seeing people that did not look like me and hearing music that looked at my previous religious learning in a different way were among the many experiences outside of classes that made Rochester such a formative experience for me.

W. Burns Fisher ’72, ’79 (MS)
Hollis, New Hampshire

One of the most searing memories from my U of R years was the 1968 Simon & Garfunkel concert. The Palestra was packed and the only sounds to be heard were the marvelous harmonies coming from this duo.

That memorable evening was exceeded by only one other campus event from the late Sixties: the May 1971 speech given by Muhammad Ali to a spellbound crowd in the Palestra. The boxer and war protester was so eloquent and intriguing you could literally hear a pin drop.

Mel Hyman ’71
Montclair, New Jersey

Really enjoyed your article on past performers over the years, but a great performance that you didn’t list was the visit by rock and roller Bo Diddley at Fall Weekend, November 10, 1961. He played in the dining center, so that’s perhaps why he was not included in your article.

We danced the night away listening to his “shave and a haircut, two bits” rhythm. Admission was $1.25 per person. It was also the weekend that I pinned my future wife, Dottie Smith (Sigma Chi). This June we’ll be celebrating our 60th anniversary.

Tony Kerst ’63
La Quinta, California

Remembering Martha Graham

Thanks for your article on Martha Graham’s year at Eastman (“When Martha Graham Danced . . .”, Spring 2023). And thanks for including the photo and article mentioning my ballet teacher, Thelma Biracree.

Miss Biracree always talked about studying and dancing with Martha Graham. My mother, Mildred Cassady Clair ’35E, an Eastman graduate in piano, accompanied all of Miss Biracree’s ballet classes for many years.

My two sisters and I also took—and loved—Miss Biracree’s classes. Her choreography was very Grahamian and always interesting, and her French pronunciation of the ballet moves, jumps, and turns was perfect. My middle sister moved to New York City after high school and studied ballet with Balanchine and Robbins.

And most delightful—when the season was right, and the New York Knicks were in town, the team took Miss Biracree’s ballet classes with us at her Eastman studio on Swan Street.

Deanna Clair Young ’66 (MA)
Boulder, Colorado

Following up on the Martha Graham article: A member of the Graham Company traveled to the UR regularly as a guest instructor for a modern dance class.

During my junior year between the football and track season, I ventured into the class, the one male in a track uniform among coeds in leotards, who stumbled across the dance floor, unable to learn Graham’s signature contraction technique.

I think the Campus Times did an article on my semester dance career.

George Hole ’60, ’68 (PhD)
Buffalo

Alumni readers also let us know that one of Graham’s former dancers, Susan Kikuchi ’70, died last fall in Manhattan. An acclaimed choreographer in her own right, Kikuchi was the daughter of Yuriko Kikuchi, one of the Graham Company’s leading dancers and teachers.

In his book, Martha Graham, When Dance Became Modern: A Life (Alfred A. Knopf, 2022), upon which Review’s story was based, biographer Neil Baldwin ’69 acknowledges both mother and daughter as important members of Graham’s community and legacy.—Scott Hauser