Richie Havens, the Brooklyn-born folk singer and guitarist who was the first performer at Woodstock, died yesterday, his family said. He was 72.
Havens died of a heart attack, the family said in a statement. Further details on his death were not immediately disclosed.
Havens was known for his crafty guitar work and cover songs, including his version of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman.”
His performance at the three-day 1969 Woodstock Festival was a turning point in his career. He was the first act to hit the stage, performing for nearly three hours. His performance of “Freedom” — based on the spiritual “Motherless Child” — became an anthem.
“Everything in my life, and so many others, is attached to that train,” he said in a 2009 interview with The Associated Press, referring to the music festival.
Havens had originally been scheduled to go on fifth at Woodstock but had been bumped up because of travel delays. Festival producer Michael Lang said in the book “The Road to Woodstock” that he chose Havens “because of his calm but powerful demeanor.”
Havens’ Web site said he had kidney surgery years ago and that he never recovered enough to perform concerts like he used to.
“I really sing songs that move me,” he said in an interview with The Denver Post. “I’m not in show business; I’m in the communications business.”