Date of Birth: January 21, 1941
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: April 22, 2013
Biography
Richie Havens was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist whose music encompassed a blend of folk, soul, and rhythm and blues. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Havens became known for his distinctive, raspy voice and his rhythmic guitar playing. He gained widespread recognition after his performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, where he opened the event with an improvised song that became iconic. Over his career, Havens released numerous albums and toured extensively, captivating audiences with his emotive performances and socially conscious lyrics. He was also noted for his covers of songs by artists like Bob Dylan and The Beatles, which he often reinterpreted with his unique style.
5 Interesting Facts about Richie Havens
1. Richie Havens was the opening act at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, performing for nearly three hours because other artists were delayed.
2. His impromptu song “Freedom,” created during his Woodstock set, became an anthem of the festival and was based on the spiritual “Motherless Child.”
3. Havens was a self-taught guitarist who developed his own distinctive style of open-tuning to compensate for his large hands.
4. Besides his music career, he was also an actor and appeared in several films, including “Greased Lightning” and “Hearts of Fire.”
5. Havens was deeply involved in ecological and educational causes, founding the Northwind Undersea Institute, an oceanographic children’s museum on City Island in the Bronx.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Richie Havens
1. “Music is the major form of communication. It’s the common denominator of the human spirit.”
2. “I really sing songs that move me. I’m not in show business. I’m in the communications business. That’s what it’s about for me.”
3. “I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.”
4. “Everything I hope for has already started to happen. I think the people are ready for change.”
5. “We were all together, and that was the message. We all heard the same song.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Richie Havens was estimated to be around $1 million.
Children
Richie Havens had three children: a son, Jay Havens, and two daughters, Rachel and Diana Havens.
Relevant Links
1. [Richie Havens on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richie_Havens
2. [Richie Havens’ Woodstock Performance](https://www.woodstock.com/lineup/artist/richie-havens/
3. [Richie Havens’ Official Website](http://www.richiehavens.com/
4. [Richie Havens on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0369770/
