Tim Hardin
at Woodstock 1969
A brilliant songwriter whose talent was undermined by heroin addiction, Tim Hardin performed at Woodstock despite personal struggles.
Tim Hardin — Woodstock 1969
The original works of Tim Hardin are overshadowed by his personal drug use, but many consider him one of the most memorable songwriters of his generation.
Born in Eugene, Oregon in 1941, Hardin had pursued the Boston and Greenwich Village folk music scenes and was signed to a deal on Verve Records. His first two albums, "Tim Hardin 1" (1966) and "Tim Hardin 2" (1967), were home to his only hits: "Misty Roses," "How Can We Hang On To A Dream," "Reason To Believe," and "If I Were a Carpenter." The latter became a U.S. top 10 single, though that version was a cover recorded by Bobby Darin.
Heroin addiction crippled his ability to build any sort of mass following. He was often absent for live performances and displayed symptoms of stage fright by acting erratically during his shows. At Woodstock, Hardin performed "Misty Roses" as well as his version of "If I Were a Carpenter," which were recorded but not included in the documentary.
After Woodstock 1969, Hardin released three more albums which fizzled in any attempt to gain him popularity. He continued to struggle with his drug problem and died of an overdose in 1980.
Hardin is still known as an incredible songwriter whose music was recorded by such artists as Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Bob Seger, The Youngbloods, the Nice, and Frank Sinatra.