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Woodstock icon Richie Havens dies at 72 | Woodstock icon Richie Havens dies at 72 |
(about 3 hours 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 hippy generation. | His improvised version of the gospel song Motherless Child evolved into Freedom at the festival and became an anthem of the 1960s hippy generation. |
The Woodstock concert film captured his performance for posterity. | The Woodstock concert film captured his performance for posterity. |
Tributes | Tributes |
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". | Tributes to the singer have come in, with his contemporary and fellow singer Stephen Stills saying Havens "could never be replicated". |
Roman Steven Toczyski, from Chester, was at Woodstock and told the BBC Havens' performance influenced the rest of his life. | Roman Steven Toczyski, from Chester, was at Woodstock and told the BBC Havens' performance influenced the rest of his life. |
"I spoke to him once or twice that day and he was a very unassuming and unpretentious person, unlike many other performers there." | "I spoke to him once or twice that day and he was a very unassuming and unpretentious person, unlike many other performers there." |
Toczyski was at the festival helping to build stages for the event. | Toczyski was at the festival helping to build stages for the event. |
"I remember Richie Havens' performance, as it provided a soundtrack to the day, which can best be described as organised chaos," he said. | "I remember Richie Havens' performance, as it provided a soundtrack to the day, which can best be described as organised chaos," he said. |
"I had never seen him perform before and he genuinely became an influence and a thread throughout my life. So I was very sad to hear of his passing." | "I had never seen him perform before and he genuinely became an influence and a thread throughout my life. So I was very sad to hear of his passing." |
Havens underwent kidney surgery in 2010 and he never recovered enough to perform concerts as he had in his heyday. | Havens underwent kidney surgery in 2010 and he never recovered enough to perform concerts as he had in his heyday. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
'Gifted' | 'Gifted' |
"Beyond his music, those who have met Havens will remember his gentle and compassionate nature, his light humour and his powerful presence," they 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," they 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. |
Havens moved to Greenwich Village in New York City at the age of 20 to perform poetry, imbibe folk music and learn how to play the guitar. | Havens moved to Greenwich Village in New York City 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. | 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. | "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. | "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. |
Turning point | Turning point |
"He was very wise in the ways of our calling. He always caught fire every time he played.'' | "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 the scheduling chaos at the festival that featured headliners such as Jimi Hendrix, The Who and Janis Joplin, | Woodstock proved the turning point in Havens' career, thanks in part to the scheduling chaos at the festival that featured headliners such as Jimi Hendrix, The Who and Janis Joplin, |
Havens, originally scheduled to go on fifth, got bumped up because of travel delays. His performance continued for three hours because the next act had not shown up. | Havens, originally scheduled to go on fifth, got bumped up because of travel delays. His performance continued for three hours because the next act had not shown up. |