Rest in Peace Richie Havens

[Lovetoclimb]

The best musical performance I have ever seen was a small show in Covington KY, maybe 150 people squeezed into a performing arts center with Richie, a concert cellist, and back up guitarist singing songs and playing their hearts out for over 2 hours. I have seriously never seen someone play their instrument so passionately and with the energy of someone 30 years his junior. This was 4 or so years ago and he seemed the model of a healthy senior IMO. Very sad to hear he was lost at only 72.

http://www.therootsagency.com/artist-roster/richie-havens

[bironi]

I listened to his music around 1970. A unique voice. I discovered this more recently. I love the song, but could do without the pictorial interpretation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odnKLx9RsQ4

[BryanE]

That sucks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA51wyl-9IE

[victoryfactory]

Richie was at his best live in a small venue. Powerful, soulful and always
musical. He connected with the muse and offered his audience a glimpse
of that.
After hearing him live in Central Park bandshell in a free concert many
years ago I looked around for some of his recordings but none of them
came close to the live thing. Richie was about connecting with and performing
for a live audience. His visit to Pete Fornatelle's WNEW radio program in the
old days (the show was called Mixed Bag btw) was electrifying. I was
able to record it and played that tape for years until it broke.
So long Richie.
You were unique.
And a beautiful soul.

[mcteague]

I was way too young for Woodstock but owned the album long ago. His "Freedom/Motherless Child" was the best thing on it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA51wyl-9IE

Tim

[zmudshark]

Run, Shaker life, shake life eternal.

[d_douglas]

Not one for pomp, I was moved by his version of 'Here Comes the Sun' fr Woodstock (just months before by birth, actually).

I love that version so much that I asked my buddy and his sister to sing that at our wedding ceremony. Both accomplished musicians, (well, his sister is a professional musician) the arrangement was weird and beautiful, just like Richie's.

Sad loss for music lovers...

[victoryfactory]

"All music is folk music"

- Richie Havens

[soulspinner]

Not one for pomp, I was moved by his version of 'Here Comes the Sun' fr Woodstock (just months before by birth, actually).

I love that version so much that I asked my buddy and his sister to sing that at our wedding ceremony. Both accomplished musicians, (well, his sister is a professional musician) the arrangement was weird and beautiful, just like Richie's.

Sad loss for music lovers...

Saw him do a rendition of this and it was amazing.................

[Ray]

I always liked him musically, but I can't say he was among my favorites. I had a couple of albums back in the day, but mostly came into him through his amazing Woodstock performance (album and movie were among my formative musical experiences in early teens - the festival happened when I was 10).

But I've heard a couple of interviews with him on the radio in the last 24 hours and I have to say, he sounds like he was about the nicest guy in the world. Maybe ever. What a total delight of a human being. Comes across as such a low key, NICE guy. Now I want to check out his music even more, but I wish I'd gotten to it while he was alive to benefit from it. But it sounds like he did just fine as he was...

RIP, indeed...

-Ray

[thwart]

Great taped interview on NPR's Talk of the Nation right now...