Such a beautiful, distinctive voice and a guy who really knew how to make a guitar spray wood chips.
Back in the Day
koeeoaddi’s favorite cover, …ever!
You will be missed. 
Freakin’ incredible opening performance at Woodstock. Whole thing could have fallen apart without that. There’s another star in the sky tonight. Peace Richie.
Ack. Sad. 
Drag. I got to see him once at an otherwise terrible concert headlined by the 1980’s Turtles.
I love his cover of the Underground Railroad song Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd, especially his guitar work.
Big loss.
He came to my university back in the day for a concert.
Very talented guy, great show - but I do recall he was a bit, uh - chatty. Seemed to want to talk a tad bit more than he wanted to sing - at least at that concert and that night.
But when he did get around to singing, he blew the audience away!
lively performer.
A huge loss.
I was fortunate to see him at a small theater here in Santa Barbara around four years ago. He put on one hell of a performance. So much power from one man and an acoustic guitar.
So sorry to hear this news, which truly marks the passing of an era.
Wow, I missed that performance. Glad you got to see him.
Nice cover, koeeoaddi.
Richie fought the good fight back in the day.
RIP brother.
Ah, man wish he could have bought another twenty years. I find myself getting a little sad now when anybody goes before 90. Such a soulful voice with that distinctive percussive strumming.
RIP Mr. Havens.
Saw him a few times in some small solo acoustic shows and a couple of festivals. I love his voice.
Godspeed to him.
It’s funny - I saw the title and thought that it would be an old guy from the 40’s or 50’s. Then I realized how old I am, and how old 72 is now. 10 years younger than my parents would be if they were still alive. Sometimes your own aging can sneak up on you in funny ways.
StG
I thought he died in the plane crash with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.
…that was Richie Valens.
Be a high flyin’ bird, Richie Havens.
Monday Chrissy Amphlett, Tuesday Richie Havens. Must be a great gig somewhere.
What a strange and sad week.
Seems nowadays when you see an artist’s face that you really admire on the news, it’s usually for the saddest of reasons. So it was yet again last night. Thanks, Richie, for some truly iconic performances.
By a weird coincidence, I just happened to be listening to “Mixed Bag” yesterday afternoon when I heard the news. But it is one of my favorite records and I do listen to it a lot.
According to the AV Club obit, Havens was a prolific jingle writer and composed the “fabric of our lives” theme! Never knew that!
Damn.
I think that the Woodstock documentary/music movie could not have had a better start than to have Richie Havens as the first performer.