The world of music mourned the loss of Richie Havens, a Blackfeet folk singer and activist, who passed away on April 22nd at his home in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was 72 years old. Havens, a figure synonymous with the spirit of the 1960s, leaves behind a legacy defined by his distinctive voice, percussive guitar style, and unwavering commitment to social justice. Though his career spanned decades, Richie Havens will forever be etched in the collective memory as the opening act of the legendary Woodstock music festival in 1969.
The circumstances surrounding Havens’ iconic performance at Woodstock are as compelling as the performance itself. While the band Sweetwater was originally slated to kick off the festival, unforeseen logistical challenges, primarily the massive traffic jams that gridlocked the highways leading to the site, prevented many artists from arriving on time. Faced with the urgent need to start the music and entertain the swelling crowd, festival co-organizer Michael Lang turned to Havens. "It had to be Richie – I knew he could handle it," Lang later stated, recognizing Havens’ ability to captivate an audience and hold their attention.
And handle it he did. Havens delivered a marathon performance, exceeding all expectations and single-handedly setting the tone for the historic event. His set stretched for nearly three hours, encompassing a diverse range of songs and culminating in a spontaneous act of musical creation. As Havens recounted in a 2009 interview with CNN, his band had managed to navigate the traffic from Manhattan in the early hours of the morning. With minimal equipment to set up, he was persuaded by the promoters to take the stage.
The pressure was on to get the music started, and Havens rose to the occasion. He played every song he knew, and when asked to return for an encore, he found himself improvising. Looking out at the sea of faces before him, the word "freedom" resonated within him, leading to the birth of a song that would become an anthem of the era.
From this moment of inspiration, "Freedom" was born. The song, a powerful expression of hope and liberation, resonated deeply with the Woodstock audience and became a defining moment of the festival. Havens seamlessly transitioned from "Freedom" into "Motherless Child," an old spiritual, further amplifying the emotional impact of his performance. His call-and-response chants of "clap your hands" ignited the crowd, transforming the massive concert into an intimate gathering reminiscent of a Greenwich Village hootenanny. This was a fitting transformation for an artist who had honed his craft in the vibrant New York City folk scene, crossing paths with luminaries like Bob Dylan.
While Dylan hailed from Minnesota, Richie Havens was a true New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn. His connection to the city’s diverse cultural landscape undoubtedly shaped his artistic sensibilities and contributed to his unique sound.
Beyond his New York roots, Havens also carried within him a rich heritage as a Blackfeet Native American. In a 2006 NPR interview, he shared the story of his ancestry. His mother’s family originated from the British West Indies, while his father’s lineage traced back to the Blackfeet Nation in the Montana/South Dakota region. Havens’ grandfather and his brother had even traveled with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, eventually leaving the show in New York City and settling on the Shinnecock Reservation in Long Island. This unique blend of cultures and experiences shaped Havens’ identity and informed his artistic perspective.
At the age of 20, Havens ventured into the heart of Greenwich Village, armed with his exceptional vocal abilities, artistic talent as a painter, and aspirations as a beat poet. He initially supported himself by painting portraits for tourists, while simultaneously teaching himself to play the guitar. After releasing two demo albums for Douglas Records, he caught the attention of Albert Grossman, Bob Dylan’s manager, and signed a record deal. In 1967, he released "Mixed Bag," an album that showcased his distinctive sound and established him as a prominent figure in the folk scene. His rendition of Dylan’s "Just Like a Woman" propelled the album’s success, highlighting Havens’ remarkable voice and his uniquely percussive guitar style. This was followed by "Something Else Again" in 1968, and the ambitious double album "Richard P. Havens, 1983" in 1969.
Then came Woodstock. The festival catapulted Havens to international fame and solidified his place in music history. His performance of "Freedom/Motherless Child" not only opened the festival but also served as a powerful introduction to the documentary film that immortalized the event.
Following Woodstock, Havens’ career reached new heights. His 1971 album, "Alarm Clock," became his best-selling record, featuring his only top-20 single, a cover of George Harrison’s "Here Comes the Sun." He continued to record and perform live for the next four decades, releasing his 21st studio album, "Nobody Left to Crown," in 2008 and playing his final concert in 2012.
While many of his contemporaries from the Woodstock era achieved greater commercial success, Havens’ performance at the festival remains a quintessential moment, embodying the spirit of peace, love, and music that defined the era. Woodstock transformed him into a beloved icon, and he used his platform to advocate for positive change throughout his life. As he once said, "I’m not in show business; I’m in the communications business."
Havens was a dedicated activist, receiving the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in 1991, performing at Bill Clinton’s 1993 Inauguration, and participating in the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1999. He championed environmental causes and founded the Northwind Undersea Institute, a children’s oceanographic museum in the Bronx, which later evolved into the Natural Guard, an organization dedicated to educating children about environmental stewardship. Fittingly, the announcement of his passing on his website, RichieHavens.com, noted that he died on Earth Day.
Another cause close to Richie Havens’ heart was the music of American Indians, reflecting his father’s heritage. He played a vital role in promoting the unity and visibility of Native recording and performing artists by helping to establish the Native American Music Awards (NAMA).
"Richie Havens offered his support and commitment as a performer with Blackfoot Indian heritage during the formation of the Native American Music Awards," the organization stated. He proudly proclaimed his Native American heritage at a press conference announcing the launch of NAMA in lower Manhattan on April 22, 1998, exactly 15 years before his passing.
Furthermore, Havens was honored by the family of the late Jimi Hendrix to perform a musical tribute for Hendrix’s induction into the NAMA Hall of Fame at the inaugural awards ceremony held in May 1998 at the Foxwoods Resort & Casino.
NAMA President and founder Ellen Bello recalled that Havens’ rendition of "All Along The Watchtower," performed as part of the Hendrix tribute, "catapulted the Awards show into something truly spiritual and spectacular."
The loss of Richie Havens is a significant blow to the music community and the world at large. His legacy as a talented musician, passionate activist, and advocate for Native American culture will continue to inspire generations to come. His voice, his music, and his unwavering commitment to making the world a better place will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on through his timeless recordings and the countless lives he touched. The life of Richie Havens was truly one of communication through song and activism.