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| Woodstock icon Richie Havens dies at 72 | Woodstock icon Richie Havens dies at 72 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Richie Havens, the folk singer who opened the legendary 1969 Woodstock rock festival, has died of a heart attack at 72. | Richie Havens, the folk singer who opened the legendary 1969 Woodstock rock festival, has died of a heart attack at 72. |
| He died at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey, his agent, Roots Agency, told Reuters. | He died at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey, his agent, Roots Agency, told Reuters. |
| Born in Brooklyn, New York, the musician was famous for his distinctive guitar and singing style. | Born in Brooklyn, New York, the musician was famous for his distinctive guitar and singing style. |
| Recalling Woodstock, Havens once said: "Everything in my life, and so many others', is attached to that train.'' | Recalling Woodstock, Havens once said: "Everything in my life, and so many others', is attached to that train.'' |
| His improvised version of the gospel song Motherless Child evolved into Freedom at the festival and became an anthem of the 1960s hippie generation. | His improvised version of the gospel song Motherless Child evolved into Freedom at the festival and became an anthem of the 1960s hippie generation. |
| The Woodstock concert film captured his performance for posterity. | The Woodstock concert film captured his performance for posterity. |
| More recently, the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's award-winning slavery-era film Django Unchained featured Havens singing a version of Freedom. | More recently, the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's award-winning slavery-era film Django Unchained featured Havens singing a version of Freedom. |
| Tributes to the singer have come in, with his contemporary and fellow singer Stephen Stills saying Havens "could never be replicated". | |
| 'Fiery, poignant' | 'Fiery, poignant' |
| Havens underwent kidney surgery in 2010 and he never recovered enough to perform concerts as he had in his heydey. | |
| He released more than 25 albums and other songs he recorded include versions of Bob Dylan's Just Like a Woman and the Beatles' Here Comes the Sun. | |
| In 1993, he performed at US President Bill Clinton's inauguration. | |
| His family said a public memorial would be announced later and asked for privacy in the meantime. | His family said a public memorial would be announced later and asked for privacy in the meantime. |
| "Beyond his music, those who have met Havens will remember his gentle and compassionate nature, his light humour and his powerful presence," it said in a statement. | "Beyond his music, those who have met Havens will remember his gentle and compassionate nature, his light humour and his powerful presence," it said in a statement. |
| Roots Agency said Havens had been "gifted with one of the most recognisable voices in popular music". | Roots Agency said Havens had been "gifted with one of the most recognisable voices in popular music". |
| "His fiery, poignant, soulful singing style has remained unique and ageless," it added. | "His fiery, poignant, soulful singing style has remained unique and ageless," it added. |
| 'Fire every time' | |
| Havens moved to New York City's Greenwich Village at the age of 20 to perform poetry, imbibe folk music and learn how to play the guitar. | |
| Stills said he remembered hanging out with him in the Village. | |
| "Richie Havens was one of the nicest, most generous and pure individuals I have ever met,'' he said in a statement. | |
| "When I was a young sprite in Greenwich Village, we used to have breakfast together at the diner on 6th Avenue next to The Waverly Theatre. | |
| "He was very wise in the ways of our calling. He always caught fire every time he played.'' | |
| Woodstock proved the turning point in Havens' career, thanks in part to scheduling chaos at the festival which featured headliners like Jimi Hendrix, The Who and Janis Joplin, | |
| Originally scheduled to go on fifth, he got bumped up because of travel delays. His performance continued for three hours because the next act had not shown up. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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