Richie Havens is gone, but never forgotten

While I'm not old enough to remember Woodstock, I definitely remember the first time my parents plopped me down in front of the TV to watch the movie. That's when I first saw and heard the late, great Richie Havens singing his improv song, "Freedom," for the crowd. I was mesmerized, and I became an instant fan.

This week, Richie Havens passed away. The 72-year-old music legend died of a heart attack at his home in New Jersey, leaving behind legions of grieving fans. But Havens also left behind a treasure trove of incredible music that will last for generations to come. His legacy is a unique folk sound that also blends elements of gospel and certainly blues. Just listen here to "Freedom" from the Woodstock movie (Havens opened the festival, and that performance earned him almost instant fame):

Richie Havens, Freedom, (Woodstock)

To say that Havens' performance captured the era of music perfectly is an understatement. The raw power and beauty of the music is unmatched, as far as I'm concerned.

Richie Havens went on to have a long and extremely successful career, playing for the Dalai Lama and at President Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration. I'd be here all day if I even attempted to name all of my favorite Richie Havens songs, but I have to say his unique covers of The Beatles "Here Comes the Sun" and Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman" are among my top choices.

Here is a great video of Richie Havens performing his version of "Here Comes the Sun" back in the early 1970s:

Richie Havens - Here Comes The Sun (live 1971) HQ

Isn't the rhythm amazing? Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't also mention that Richie Havens was a talented songwriter in his own right. If you aren't sure whether you've heard any original Havens music, I bet you have. Here is the audio of his performance of "Handsome Johnny" from Woodstock:

Richie Havens ~ Handsome Johnny

I've spend the past day listening to Richie Havens' music, particularly his Woodstock set. For those of you looking to get into Havens, I'd definitely recommend starting there.

Rest in peace, Richie Havens. Thank you for all the wonderful music.

Photo courtesy of EW.com