Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)

Subject: Obit: Ritchie Havens
From: pdq
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 05:04 PM

He sang at Woodstock for hours because nobody else could get through the traffic.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ritchie Havens
From: Genie
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 05:09 PM

I was fortunate enough hear him live at the NW Folklife Festival in Seattle a few years ago.

Sad loss for the music community.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ritchie Havens
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 05:22 PM

Wear your love like heaven.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ritchie Havens
From: bobad
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 05:29 PM

Oh no not Richie now - what a loss and a shock.

Mods please correct spelling of his name.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ritchie Havens
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 05:30 PM

Richie was a wonderful guy.

(Please note spelling of his first name.)

Subject: RE: Obit: Ritchie Havens
From: Amos
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 05:30 PM

My condolences to those who knew him. An era is slowly drawing down...

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 06:07 PM

BIG Loss...Rest in Peace Richie...BR

http://www.richiehavens.com/official_site/home.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Brakn
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 06:08 PM

Sad news - I named my daughter Mona after one of his songs "There's A Hole In the Future" on his Stonehenge album. :-( Loved his stuff.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 06:20 PM

Just listening to Colored Vounteers this morning. That man was a force of nature. Rest easy.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: voyager
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 06:22 PM

Richie - I'm reading your story and typing this note from an airplane ride to Seattle (35,000').


There's a high flyin' bird, way up in the sky now, / You know I wonder if she looks down, as she flies on by? / She's flying on the air so easily in the sky.

Soar on.
voyager

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 07:55 PM

Great man and performer. Truly an era is closing. The world is diminshed.............


Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Bobert
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 07:56 PM

Richie Havens was in a class of his own... Politically active... Had his own sound, style, rhythm and groove which was absolutely groovy.. I loved his version of "Here Comes the Sun"...

Lucky enough to see. hear and meet him at the Cellar Door in Washington, D.C.... Also heard him at the Moratorium in 1970 (maybe '71) in D.C....

R.I.P., Ricthie...

You always fought the good fight...

B~

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Elmore
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 08:09 PM

He was a unique singer and a great performer. Sorry to hear of his death.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Mark Ross
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 08:52 PM

Hung out with him a bit back 45 years ago in the Village. He was a sweet, gentle, loving man, and one of the most dynamic performers ever. He will be missed.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Wesley S
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 09:19 PM

Bummer. I was a huge fan.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 09:34 PM

I always thought of black crushed velvet when I saw and heard Richie Havens. Yes. One by one they are leaving, which means that we have to become our own role models and heroes. Are we ready?

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Janie
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 10:55 PM

I can not think of any other folk artist who was his match in terms of expressing his passion, his heart and his compassion in all of his work. I feel very sad.

As Ebbie said, a role model and a hero. He is one of the few well known musicians that I always wished I had the opportunity to meet and talk with.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,cw1011
Date: 22 Apr 13 - 11:43 PM

I had the pleasure of meeting this great musician and humble and kind man. He was a part of my youth, and i will miss him terribly. Rest in peace, Richie.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,Padre sans
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 12:09 AM

The Boarding Party opened for him at Lincoln Center many years ago. Great performer, and a nice guy. Rest in peace

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 12:35 AM

Richie Havens, Folk Singer Who Riveted Woodstock, Dies at 72

by Douglas Martin
The New York Times
April 22, 2013

Richie Havens, who marshaled a craggy voice, a percussive guitar and a soulful sensibility to play his way into musical immortality at Woodstock in 1969, improvising the song "Freedom" on the fly, died on Monday at his home in Jersey City. He was 72

The cause was a heart attack, his agent, Tim Drake, said.

Mr. Havens embodied the spirit of the '60s — espousing peace and love, hanging out in Greenwich Village and playing gigs from the Isle of Wight to the Fillmore (both East and West) to Carnegie Hall. He surfaced only in the mid-1960s, but before the end of the decade many rock musicians were citing him as an influence. His rendition of "Handsome Johnny" became an anti-Vietnam War anthem.

He moved beyond his '60s triumphs to record more than two dozen albums, act in movies, champion environmental education and perform in 1993 at the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton. In 2003, the National Music Council gave him its American Eagle Award for his place in the nation's musical heritage. Kidney surgery forced him to stop touring last year.

For the baby-boomer generation, he will live forever on the stage of the Woodstock festival, which he had the honor to open because the folk-rock band Sweetwater, the scheduled opening act, was stuck in traffic. Mr. Havens and his guitarist and drummer arrived by helicopter. They had been scheduled to go on fifth.

Mr. Havens started with "Minstrel From Gault" a few minutes after 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, 1969. He was originally supposed to play four songs, but other performers were late, so he played on. He later said he thought he had played for two hours and 45 minutes, but two bands followed him before sunset, around 8 p.m., so that was impossible.

But Mr. Havens played 10 songs, including Beatles songs. His impassioned improvisation was pitch perfect for the generation watching him, most of whom saw it later in a documentary on the festival. His clarion encore "Freedom" — made up on the spot and interspersed with the spiritual "Motherless Child" — sounded a powerful if wistful note.

" 'Freedom' came from a totally spontaneous place," Mr. Havens said.

Richard Pierce Havens was born on Jan. 21, 1941, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, where he grew up. He was the eldest of nine children. His father made Formica tables for a living and played piano with various bands. His mother worked for a bookbindery.

He began singing with street-corner doo-wop groups when he was about 12. At 14 he joined the McCrea Gospel Singers. He was recruited by a street gang, and he dropped out of high school. He spent the rest of his life educating himself, and was proud of the results.

In his late teens Mr. Havens migrated to Greenwich Village, where he wandered the clubs working as a portrait artist. After a few years he discovered folk music, and he was soon playing several engagements a night at clubs like Why Not? and the Fat Black Pussycat.

His hands were very large, which made it difficult to play the guitar. He developed an unorthodox tuning so he could play chord patterns not possible with conventional tunings. The style was picked up by other folk and blues singers.

"A person looking at him might think he was just flailing about," the guitarist Barry Oliver said in the magazine Guitar Player. "But the way he flailed about was so musical, and it went perfectly with what he was portraying. He's a good example of not having to have to be a technically perfect guitarist in order to come across."

Mr. Havens signed with the influential manager Albert Grossman and got a record deal with the Verve Forecast label. Verve released "Mixed Bag" in 1967, which featured "Handsome Johnny," which he wrote with the actor Louis Gossett Jr.; "Follow," which became one of his signature songs; and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman."

In 1971, he released the only single that would put him in the Top 20, a soulful rendition of George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun." His music had a new burst of popularity in the 1980s, and he found success as a jingle writer and performer for Amtrak, Maxwell House Coffee and the cotton industry ("The fabric of our lives"). He acted in a few movies, including "Hearts of Fire" (1987), which starred Bob Dylan.

Mr. Havens devoted considerable energy to educating young people on ecological issues. In the mid-1970s he founded the Northwind Undersea Institute, an oceanographic children's museum on City Island in the Bronx. He later created the Natural Guard, an environmental organization for children, to use hands-on methods to teach about the environment.

This seriousness of purpose showed in many areas of his life. "I'm not in show business," he said. "I'm in the communications business."

Carrie Lombardi, Mr. Havens's publicist, said his family wanted to keep information about survivors private, but she did say that they include four daughters and many grandchildren. He was married many years ago.

Mr. Havens played many songs written by Mr. Dylan, and he spent three days learning his epic "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall." A man who heard him practicing it stopped him on the stairs as he headed for the dressing room of a nightclub, and told him it was the best he'd ever heard the song sung.

"That's how I first met Bob Dylan," Mr. Havens said.
---

I'm so glad to have seen him a few years ago at the Kate Wolf festival. A special soul.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 01:53 AM

Bob Dylan and Richie Havens had a long friendship, and Havens made appearances in a couple of movies that either featured Bob Dylan...or were about him. I always enjoyed hearing Richie's soulful, inspired performances.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,BobL
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 03:16 AM

It must say something that his passing was mentioned on BBC Radio 3 news this morning - for non-UK listeners, that's the classical music channel.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,Niggardly Bastard
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 04:03 AM

I saw him live back in the 70's.
A powerful performer.
He played Here Comes The Sun as the sun was rising.
A great human being.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 04:16 AM

A total original, fascinating choice of cover versions and, obviously, a great human being.
RIP Mr. Havens

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,Sad Lizzie Cornish
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 09:03 AM

Richie's autobiograpy 'They Can't Hide Us Anymore', for those who have not read it. Wonderful book...and in there you will hear Richie mentioning our own Bruce, several times over, as the man whose songs blew him away so much that it made Richie change the way *he* wrote from then on....

I feel so terribly sad about this news...but I have been so very lucky to have lived in a time of such amazing musicians (and I include Bruce Murdoch in there) for they all cared and still care so passionately about us.

Amazon - 'They Can't Hide Us Anymore' by Richie Havens

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 11:16 AM

aw shit.
travel well Mr. Havens

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,highlandman at work
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 02:03 PM

He was ever present in the soundtrack of my life.
Serious without being morose...
A great showman without being shallow...
Original without being flaky...
Passionate without being preachy...
Honest... unselfconscious...
defier of genres...
Nobody like him.
RIP
-Glenn

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: RiGGy
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 10:39 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 24 Apr 13 - 09:43 PM

Thanks for the heads up on the book, Lizzie.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 25 Apr 13 - 05:41 PM

I never actually saw Richie perform, but he serenaded us from the stage as we packed up to leave the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival on Monday morning. He was the last performer to play.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Rara Avis
Date: 25 Apr 13 - 09:47 PM

I first saw Richie at the Newport Folk Festival in 196whatever. I've been to a number of concerts subsequent to that and we always had time for a chat. We shared a love of riding trains and always had train stories to swap. He was a lovely man with the most gorgeous voice. It is very sad to think that we will never see him again.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 25 Apr 13 - 10:20 PM

A really great performer, with a great attitude to the planet.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: bobad
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 10:35 AM

From Richie's Facebook page:

Dear friends,

Heartfelt thanks for the worldwide showing of love and respect for Richie. This is a very difficult time for everyone and knowing you're all right here with us is tremendously moving. As per his very specific wishes, Richie was cremated on Tuesday and his ashes were placed in a beautiful stone pyramid urn. Later in the summer they will be scattered across the field where the Woodstock festival took place in 1969 ~Max Yasgur's farm, now Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Knowing Richie wanted a party rather than a somber memorial, we have decided to schedule a few public events because, as you all know, Richie considered the world his family, and each and every one of you his friends. We think he'd be just fine with one last tour.

This coming Monday, April 29th, there will be a viewing in New York City at City Winery, located at 155 Varick Street (ph 212 608-0555). This is an informal and unticketed event, however we do ask that you rsvp through City Winery at [e-mail] if you plan to attend. Any and all are welcome to come say goodbye to Richie. Doors will open at 8pm.

Plans for a memorial concert are also underway, and we will make a few more announcements in the coming days. This will be the only viewing in NYC. We hope you'll join us.

Subject: RE: Obit: Richie Havens (1941-2013)
From: voyager
Date: 19 Aug 13 - 07:16 PM

There's a 'High Flying Bird' flying way up in the sky -

Richie Havens Ashes Scattered Across 1969 Woodstock Site

voyager