Farm Aid

Origins


Farm Aid started as a benefit concert held in 1985 in Champaigne Illinois to raise money for farming families in the United States. It was founded by musicians Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp spurred on by Bob Dylan's comments at Live Aid earlier that year in which he said he hoped that some of the money would help American farmers in danger of losing their farms through Mortgage Debt. The first concert was held at the University Of Illinois' Memorial Stadium on September 25th before a crowd of 80, 000 people performers included Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Roy Orbison among others and it raised over  $9 million for American farming families. The 2005 concert marked the 20th anniversary of Farm Aid's founding.

Partial List Of Performers at Farm Aid

 * Alabama
 * The Beach Boys
 * Bon Jovi
 * Glen Campbell
 * Johnny Cash
 * David Allen Coe
 * Charlie Daniels Band
 * John Denver
 * Bob Dylan
 * John Fogerty
 * Foreigner
 * Vince Gill
 * Arlo Guthrie
 * Sammy Hagar
 * Merle Haggard
 * Daryl Hall
 * Emmylou Harris
 * Don Henley
 * Waylon Jennings
 * Billy Joel
 * Randy Newman
 * George Jones
 * B.B. King
 * Carole King
 * Kris Kristofferson
 * Huey Lewis & The News
 * Loretta Lynn
 * John Mellencamp
 * Roger Miller
 * Joni Mitchell
 * Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
 * Willie Nelson
 * Roy Orbison
 * Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
 * Charlie Pride
 * Bonnie Raitt
 * Lou Reed
 * Kenny Rogers
 * Brian Setzer
 * Sissy Spacek
 * Tanya Tucker
 * Eddie Van Halen
 * Dave Matthews Band
 * Band Of Horses
 * The Highwaymen
 * Del McCoury Band
 * Crazy Horse
 * Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
 * Jason Mraz
 * Jewel
 * Montgomery Gentry
 * Brooks & Dunn
 * Jerry Lee Lewis
 * Carl Perkins
 * Hootie & The Blowfish
 * Neil Young
 * Phish