I was and will remain a Richie Havens fan ~ I still listen to my original Woodstock album ~ as soon as I hear the lead-in to "Freedom", I stop what I'm doing and marvel [again!] at this man's talent ~ rest in peace, Richie ~ ~ Sooz

The voice of 'Freedom' goes silent
Legendary folk man Richie Havens dies at 72.
By Mark C. Brown 45 minutes ago

Richie Havens is best known for -- and he knew it -- the song he made up on the spot, "Freedom." He opened Woodstock and had to kill time as other bands tried to get to the jammed site. He finally jammed a song spontaneously that became a highlight of the show, the film and the soundtrack. What it lacked in finished words "Freedom" made up in passion, and Havens knew years later that when he died it would be what would kick off his obituary.

That day came today. A sudden heart attack felled Havens at home. He was 72. The revered folk singer gave up touring last year for health reasons, but his death was still sudden and unexpected.

Even if he's best known for an off-the-cuff improvisation, his fans hungered for his interpretations of others' songs, many of which were sublime including "Here Comes the Sun" (his biggest hit, sung in his warm, earthy voice), "If Not For You," "You Can Close Your Eyes" and many other classics. Never did Havens try to merely copy a song; his signature was all over each composition, leaving no room for doubt as to who was singing or what he was trying to do.

Even when he went a bit "commercial" (which is a stretch to use that term for his work) with covers of hits such as 10cc's "I'm Not in Love" the results that gave the overwrought pop song some real gravitas. He would take other people's signature songs -- The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever," Leon Russell's "Tightrope," Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay," Steely Dan's "Do It Again" -- and completely reinterpret them. You couldn't always say they were better, but they were all Havens and always fascinating.

Born in Brooklyn in 1941 Havens quickly found a home in the Greenwich Village music scene of the early '60s, witnessing the explosion of folk and blues that set out to define the early part of the decade musically. He signed a record deal in the mid-'60s but it was the 1969 Woodstock appearance (and release of the film the following year) that broke him internationally. Big tours, chart success and critical acclaim followed, giving Havens the boost he needed to sustain a strong live career for the next 40 years.

His recording output varied and is often hard to find; 1976's "The Beginning of the End" never was reissued on CD, though many of its strongest songs did appear on many later CD compilations.

While he may not have won many awards related to his music -- "Here Comes the Sun" peaked at #16 on the Billboard charts -- Havens was often feted at Cannes and other prestigious events for his humanitarian, peace and charity work. He's a member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, but has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, despite his vast influence and influence.

A memorial service and other details will be announced at a later time, according to his booking agency.

Here are a couple of highlights from a career that defies categorization:



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