The Rather Magnificent Bert Sommer: Woodstock's Lost Treasure

New York singer-songwriter Bert Sommer was just 20 years old when he played his first live gig-Woodstock. He received the first standing ovation and was introduced as The Rather Magnificent Bert Sommers. That slight in accuracy was a harbinger of the bad luck to come. When Woodstock's mud and the dust settled, Bert Sommer was forgotten.

Why? Bert Sommer was left off the 1970 Woodstock documentary and its soundtrack. It wasn't until missing footage of his song "Jennifer" turned up on YouTube that people took notice. How could this be an unknown Woodstock performer? Bert could have soared with Jimi and Janis. Instead, he got saddled with a Woodstock curse.

Woodstock's Lost Treasure has been excavated by a curious rabbit hole-diver in author Sharon Watts. Bert's once-niche following has exploded with the internet and is eager to learn more. Author Sharon Watts has discovered nooks and crannies, has collected all the stories, and presents a captivating and impressionistic portrait of the entire life of a talented yet doomed missing puzzle piece to the history of Woodstock.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Lucknow Press
Published: 07/30/2026
ISBN: 9798234109460
Pages: 306
Weight: 1.22lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.83d