Today one of the great ones, Richie Havens, went home after a sudden heart attack. He was 72. From my perspective these days, that's too close for comfort. He played our high school when I was a junior - a total knock out show - and his recordings and live gigs came highly recommended by our oh so very young and hip American History teacher Ms. Smith who rode into CT every morning from her digs at Columbia University.
Havens was a full band all by himself given his percussive strumming, open tunings and rich bariton voice. He could be mellow - think of his take on George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" - or passionate like he was at Woodstock.
The story goes that not only was that historic show having trouble getting started - too many kids were clogging the hiway for performers to get through - but that after Havens finished his extended set, he was pushed back out on stage and told to "keep it going." And did he ever deliver... making up the Freedom chant on the spot and playing deep and sweetly poignant chords under his version of "Motherless Child."
I loved everything about this cat... and give thanks to God for the blessings he shared with us all.
WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN: REFLECTIONS ON TENDERNESS IN A CHAOTIC CULTURE
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RIP....
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