Open Letter to Neil Young: "Won't you please come to Cincinnati just to sing?"

Cincinnati Music Hall
(Click photo to enlarge)

Here is an Open Letter to Neil Young by "Winterland Stories" author/photographer and Rustie Chris Horn.

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Poster: Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse

Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio - February 25, 1970

Open Letter to Neil Young

Neil,

On behalf of Jim Tarbell and the Cincinnati community - Please Return to Music Hall.

Jim staged your February 25, 1970 concert to overwhelming enthusiasm.

The show ran well past the scheduled finish and the audience shouted for more - Jim Tarbell proclaimed from the stage…..

“As sure as I’m standing here, we will do it again”

Please consider returning to the magnificent Music Hall after these 56 years.

Do it for Jim Tarbell - he’s still standing

Impresario of Cincinnati

‘Mr Cincinnati’

He told me the other night during the Tarbellpaloza! book signing at Arnold’s - 2/21/26 - “people I speak with…..the concert still resonates to this day.”

You performing Music Hall - I will be remembering another music impresario who had an impact on his community Bill Graham.

Maybe stop in before Farm Aid.

Chris Horn

Cincinnati

2/25/26

Tarbellpaloza!:

“A Merry Medley of Memories By Friends of ‘Mister Cincinnati’”

Curated by Greg Hand

Issue date 11/13/25

Tarbellpaloza!: “A Merry Medley of Memories By Friends of ‘Mister Cincinnati’”

The tales recount Jim Tarbell’s immense impact to Cincinnati including its music scene - a few early examples.

Grateful Dead

Hyde Park Teen Center 11/30/68

Ludlow Garage

1969 to 1971

Neil Young and Crazy Horse

Music Hall 2/25/70

Jim Tarbell signing books 

Arnold’s, Cincinnati, OH - Feb 21, 2025

In Tarbellpalooza! - pages 23 - 24 describes the impact of Jim’s staging the Neil Young and Crazy Horse concert - Jim’s wish Neil plays Music Hall again.

“Music will probably always remain an important part of Tarball’s life, he likes to play harmonica and spoons occasionally…..And he still dreams of staging a reprise of one of the greatest concerts he has ever presented - a young Neil Young enchanting the sold-out crowd at Music Hall in 1970.  The show featured both a solo acoustic set and an electric one with Crazy Horse, and Young had a charming, winning stage presence. The crowd at the end wouldn’t leave, nor would they stop shouting for more, more, more. Tarbell takes the stage to dissuade them from staying, to little effect.  And he finally says, “As sure as I’m standing here, we will do it again”…..Tarbell dreams of staging a big festival - “Tarbellpalooza”…..”

“The big windup of it would be Neil Young at Music Hall,” Jim Tarbell, 83 says a glorious smile on his face. “How wonderful would that be?”

Jim Tarbell & Chris Horn

A copy of Tarbellpalooza! was sent to Lookout Management in hopes it may be delivered. It contained a note by Greg Hand and Chris Horn.

Ticket Stub: Neil Young w/ Crazy Horse

Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio - February 25, 1970

image via Sugar Mountain

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Thanks so much for contributing here Chris!  What a great effort to make that "hippie dream" happen.  

We know that if Neil, Jim & you make it happen, we'll have some eyewitness reports from Cincinnati.  Best of luck and keep us posted on any developments.  Hopefully this will motivate Neil to get back on the road.

ps - Once again, it was great working together on "Winterland Stories" awhile back.  We promise to get those image links fixed ... someday...

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