When white audience members rioted after they were unable to get tickets, the Newport Jazz Festival's final three sets (one that night / two the following day on the 4th) were unexpectedly canceled on the afternoon of July 3, 1960.  This was the first time the blues had been played on this scale before white audiences in America, and the demand exceeded all expectations for the 13,000 seat outdoor venue. 

 

At the end of Langston Hughes's instructive blues session, Muddy Waters (with his right hand on the piano below) sang a song Hughes had just written (most likely mere hours before the official announcement).  As an official board member of the festival, Hughes would have been involved in the discussions privately before the decision was made public. Otis Spann played piano and John Lee Hooker is seated below at acoustic guitar as well.

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At the time the song was performed (which can be heard below), it was sincerely believed this might be the bitter end of the festival forever. The very last words on the recording are of Langston Hughes himself solemnly saying, with a heavy heart, "Goodbye Newport."