Richie Havens – International Folk Singer – Public Memorial Set For NYC
A public memorial is scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2013 in New York City at the City Winery for the recently deceased Richie Havens.
Havens, 72, an iconic folk musician, composer, singer, and activist passed away in his home in New Jersey, on the morning of April 22, 2013, Earth Day, of a sudden heart attack. He had retired from touring three years earlier due to kidney surgery from which he never recovered enough to perform concerts as he once did.
In the following video we see Havens during his performance at the 40th anniversary celebration of Woodstock, 2009, and an earlier performance of Van Morrison’s composition “Tupelo Honey” segued with Bob Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman”.
Richie Havens, beloved around the world for his unique interpretations of music of various genres, folk, rock, blues, gospel, was a musician who enthralled a generation with his improvised performance of “Freedom” as the opening act of the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. He was also cherished for his activism and his humanitarian efforts for which he received numerous commendations.
Richard Pierce “Richie” Havens will be remembered for having created his foundation for marine study and conservation, composed the remarkable song that sent him on a mission of peace to the Middle East, his work mobilizing schoolchildren as environmental activists…
In 1991 he received The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award for his continued presence in and advocacy of sociopolitical consciousness by the public.
There is no doubt the staff of YouThinkWhat, along with countless other admirers, both young and old, around the world will miss the artistic and humanitarian contributions of the man born the eldest of nine children in Brooklyn, New York.
Havens first came to music through performances with the McCrea Gospel Singers. At the age of twenty he moved to Greenich Village in New York City; he taught himself to play the guitar, developing the rapid intense strumming style he was known for, to become a part of the burgeoning 1960s music scene.
During the last forty or so years following Woodstock, Havens continued to expand his message of love and peace and through his music; his performances at countless national events including Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorial service as well as Bill Clinton’s 1993 inaugural brought him worldwide renown. In 2003, the National Music Council honored him with the American Eagle Award for his place in American music history. The story of his life can be found in his autobiography, titled They Can’t Hide Us No More.
The memorial service is being held at the selected venue because Havens wanted a party rather than a somber memorial; his body was cremated on last Tuesday as per his very specific wishes, with a plan to later in the summer scatter his ashes across the field where the Woodstock festival took place in 1969 ~Max Yasgur’s farm, now Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
Doors will open at 8pm for a viewing in New York City at City Winery, located at 155 Varick Street (telephone 212. 608.0555). It is an informal and unticketed event. The family along with Havens’ management/publicist ask those who plan to attend to RSVP through City Winery at reservations@citywinery.com . Everyone is welcome to come say goodbye to Richie.
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