The Mar y Sol Pop Festival, also known as The First International Puerto Rico Pop Festival included rock, blues, folk, jazz and salsa music. The festival took place on April 1–3, 1972. and was held on approximately 420 acres of countryside adjacent to Playa Los Tubos, Manatí on the north shore of Puerto Rico . An estimated 35,000 people attended the festival.

At the time few people knew who Billy Joel was as he had recently released his first album Cold Spring Harbor with a small record company called Family Productions. Billy’s performance at Mar y Sol wowed the attendees and provided a major boost to his career.

According to  Ken Bielen in his book “The Words and Music of Billy Joel”, “His performance was brought to the attention of Clive Davis, the head of Columbia Records, who was impressed with Joel’s artistry.” Joel signed with Columbia Records the next year.

Many of the original performers set to play could not make it due to a number of reasons including issues with the government of Puerto Rico, these were said to include Black Sabbath, Malo and Fleetwood Mac.

The album Mar y Sol: The First International Puerto Rico Pop Festival was released in 1972 by Atco Records. It was never released on CD.

Confirmed Performers:

Alice Cooper
Allman Brothers Band
B.B. King
Banda Del K-rajo
Bang
Billy Joel
Brownsville Station
Cactus
Dave Brubeck w/ Gerry Mulligan
David Peel and The Lower East Side
Dr. John the Night Tripper
Elephant’s Memory Band
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Faces With Rod Stewart & Ronnie Wood
Fran Ferrer y Puerto Rico 2010
Herbie Mann
J. Geils Band
Long John Baldry
Jonathan Edwards
Mahavishnu Orchestra w/ John McLaughlin
Michael Overly
Nitzinger
Osibisa
Pot Liquor
Rubber Band
Stonehenge

Playa Los Tubos, Manatí, Puerto Rico

Mar Y Sol Festival