In the summer of 1969, amidst a sea of nearly half a million attendees at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, a spontaneous moment between two young lovers was captured, destined to become one of the most iconic images of the era. This photograph, featuring Nick and Bobbi Ercoline wrapped in a warm embrace under a tattered quilt, graced the cover of the “Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More” album, encapsulating the spirit of peace, love, and unity that defined the festival.
The Journey to Woodstock
Nick Ercoline, a college student working two jobs, and Bobbi Kelly, employed at a bank, had been dating for only a few months when they decided to attend the Woodstock festival on a whim. Despite reports of overwhelming crowds and logistical challenges, the allure of the event was irresistible. They joined their friend Jim “Corky” Corcoran, navigated back roads to Bethel, New York, parked their car when traffic became impassable, and walked the remaining distance to the festival grounds. Their plan was simple: experience the historic gathering and return home in time for work.
A Serendipitous Snapshot
Unbeknownst to Nick and Bobbi, photographer Burk Uzzle was roaming the festival grounds, capturing candid moments that epitomized the event’s ethos. As dawn broke and Jefferson Airplane performed, Uzzle noticed the couple standing and embracing, wrapped in a quilt. He seized the moment, taking a photograph that would later become emblematic of Woodstock’s legacy. The couple themselves were unaware of the photograph until a year later, when friends pointed out their likeness on the album cover. Reflecting on that moment, Nick recalled, “Just getting up in the morning, standing up, giving my girlfriend a hug. I don’t even remember the picture being taken honestly.”
Life Beyond the Lens
Two years after the festival, Nick and Bobbi married in 1971, settling in Pine Bush, New York, not far from the Woodstock site. Nick pursued a career as a union carpenter and later worked for the Office of Community Development in Orange County, while Bobbi became a school nurse. They raised two children and led a life grounded in community and family values. Their association with the iconic photograph resurfaced periodically, notably during anniversaries of the festival, but they remained humble about their inadvertent fame. Bobbi reflected, “I know some people say Woodstock changed their life. But I don’t think it contributed to who I am or who Nick is. I think we became the people we would have become anyway.”
A Symbol of Enduring Love
Over the years, the image of Nick and Bobbi has come to symbolize the enduring ideals of the 1960s counterculture movement. Their embrace, captured in a fleeting moment, represents the hope, love, and unity that Woodstock sought to promote. As Wade Lawrence, director of the Bethel Woods Museum, noted, “It symbolizes that love and togetherness of the festival.”
A Bittersweet Farewell
In March 2023, Bobbi Ercoline passed away at the age of 73. Her husband, Nick, announced her passing, stating, “She lived her life well and left this world in a much better place. If you knew her, you loved her.”
Their love story, immortalized in a single photograph, continues to inspire and resonate with generations who view the Woodstock album cover not just as an image, but as a testament to enduring love and the timeless spirit of an era.
Legacy and Reflection
The story of Nick and Bobbi Ercoline serves as a poignant reminder of the serendipitous moments that can define cultural history. Their unplanned attendance at Woodstock, coupled with an unintentional photograph, resulted in an image that has transcended time. As the couple themselves acknowledged, they were “just regular kids in small-town USA,” yet their embrace became a universal symbol of love and unity.
In revisiting the legacy of the Woodstock album cover couple, we are reminded of the power of love, spontaneity, and the enduring impact of a single moment frozen in time.
For a more personal insight into their story, you might find the following interview enlightening:
