Mr Havens gave me my first experience with a "busker". Richie would play just outside the Fourth St subway stop in front of the basketball courts in the West Village. Still not well known in '64 and makin' his way. Lacked front teeth & we considered asking him to play "All I Want for Christmas" but didn't, thankfully. Completely wore out the top of his dreadnaught with his full-back-of the-hand strum thing he did so well. Years later he was part of a commune in Fleishmans upstate with a bunch of crafts folk I knew. Miss him. He sure made George Harrison's stuff rock.
|