Sweetwater
at Woodstock 1969
Often cited as the first band to actually perform at Woodstock, Sweetwater's legacy is overshadowed by tragedy.
Sweetwater — Woodstock 1969
Sweetwater has been credited as the first band to perform at Woodstock 1969, taking the stage shortly after Richie Havens opened the festival. Their sound was comparable to Jefferson Airplane, with lead singer Nancy Nevins as the group's distinguishing feature. Some music historians attribute to them the development of psychedelic rock/jazz fusion.
The band's musical arrangements, while innovative, are less memorable than their tragic backstory. A pivotal tragedy altered the band's trajectory: a car accident involving Nancy Nevins and an intoxicated driver occurred. This incident resulted in her prolonged recovery and serious vocal cord damage, ultimately leading to the band's dissolution. The accident essentially overshadowed any achievements beyond their brief but historically significant Woodstock performance.
For those interested in their discography, three studio albums are available: "Sweetwater" (1968), "Just for You" (1970), and "Melon" (1971). Following an invitation to reunite for a Woodstock reunion tour, surviving members reformed and began creating new material, though their legacy remains primarily tied to being among the first bands to play Woodstock 1969.
What Happened to Nancy Nevins?
The full story is worse than the "car accident" shorthand suggests. On December 8, 1969, a drunk driver hit Nevins' car on a California freeway. She spent ten days in a coma from the resulting brain injury, and her vocal cords were damaged during the emergency tracheotomy that saved her life. Her singing career was effectively over for the next 25 years.
She did not disappear. Nevins eventually relearned to sing, returned to performing and recording starting in the 1990s, and became an English professor at colleges in California, a second act her Woodstock legacy rarely mentions.
Three of Sweetwater's Woodstock-era members -- August Burns, Albert Moore, and Alan Malarowitz -- have since passed away. See all Woodstock performers who have passed →