Sha Na Na
at Woodstock 1969
The Columbia University doo-wop revival act performed just before Jimi Hendrix in one of Woodstock's most surprising bookings.
Sha Na Na — Woodstock 1969
Sha Na Na were perhaps the most surprising booking at Woodstock 1969, and they performed in one of the most improbable slots in festival history: immediately before Jimi Hendrix's closing performance.
The group had formed at Columbia University in New York City, originally as a doo-wop act performing 1950s rock and roll covers with choreographed moves, gold lamé costumes, and greased hair. They were essentially a nostalgia act performing songs from just a decade earlier, which made them an anomaly at a festival defined by psychedelic exploration.
Yet their energy and showmanship won over the crowd. Their campy, enthusiastic take on "Jailhouse Rock," "At the Hop," "Teen Angel," and other classics from the late 1950s provided a joyful, ironic contrast to the serious political and musical ambitions of most Woodstock acts.
Sha Na Na's Woodstock appearance launched them to broader fame. They went on to host a syndicated television variety show from 1977 to 1981, "Sha Na Na," which brought their brand of doo-wop nostalgia to millions of Americans. The group also appeared in the 1978 film "Grease."
Their inclusion in the Woodstock documentary helped cement their reputation as more than just a novelty act — they were a genuine cultural phenomenon.