Richie Havens, (Richard Pierce Havens), American folk singer and guitarist (born Jan. 21, 1941, Brooklyn, N.Y.—died April 22, 2013, Jersey City, N.J.), transfixed audiences at the legendary rock festival known as Woodstock as he kickstarted the event and set the tone for the three-day (Aug. 15–18, 1969) musical phenomenon with his frenetic guitar strumming and his compelling “Freedom,” which combined improvised lyrics with those from the tune “Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child”; the song became the festival’s anthem. Havens and his bandmates, who were initially slated fifth on the program, were drafted to fill in for the opening acts, which were stuck in roadway congestion. During the extended set, Havens performed a medley of Beatles songs, his own “Handsome Johnny” (written with actor Lou Gossett, Jr.), and encores of “Freedom.” Earlier, in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Havens had dabbled in art before turning to a musical career. He established the record label Stormy Forest, which released six of his albums. Other songs identified with him were George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun,” “Follow,” and “Just like a Woman,” a Bob Dylan mainstay. In later years Havens wrote jingles and appeared in a few films. He was also involved in efforts aimed at educating children about conservation.

Content: Britannica

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