Monday, April 22, 2013

Richie Havens, Folk Legend Dead At 72

Richie Havens has passed away today at the age of 72. The Brooklyn-bred singer/guitarist was perhaps best known for opening the legendary 1969 Woodstock Festival with a near three-hour performance which set the tone for the rest of the event. He recorded countless albums and performed all over the world. He was forced to stop touring in 2012 after complications from kidney surgery.

The official announcement:
Richie Havens was gifted with one of the most recognizable voices in popular music. His fiery, poignant, soulful singing style has remained unique and ageless since his historic appearance at Woodstock in 1969. For four decades, Havens used his music to convey passionate messages of brotherhood and personal freedom. Billboard Magazine writes, “This acoustic soul giant truly seems to be getting more inspiring and graceful with age.” From Woodstock to The Isle of Wight to Glastonbury to the Fillmore Auditorium to Royal Albert Hall to Carnegie Hall, Richie played the most legendary music festivals that ever were, and most of the world’s greatest concert venues. But even when performing in a Greenwich Village coffeehouse or a small club or regional theater, he was eternally grateful that people in any number turned up each time to hear him sing. More than anything, he feels incredibly blessed to have met so many of you along the way.

Watch Richie Havens perform "Freedom" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969:

No comments: