Folk Icon Richie Havens Suffers Fatal Heart Attack in Jersey City Home

Richie Havens

Richie Havens, the folk legend best known for opening Woodstock ’69 on a whim, died of a sudden heart attack in his Jersey City home this morning. He was 72.

Here’s an official statement on his passing from The Roots Agency, along with a classic Woodstock clip…

RICHIE HAVENS was gifted with one of the most recognizable voices in popular music. His fiery, poignant, soulful singing style has remained unique and ageless since his historic appearance at Woodstock in 1969. For four decades, Havens used his music to convey passionate messages of brotherhood and personal freedom. Billboard Magazine writes, “This acoustic soul giant truly seems to be getting more inspiring and graceful with age.” From Woodstock to The Isle of Wight to Glastonbury to the Fillmore Auditorium to Royal Albert Hall to Carnegie Hall, Richie played the most legendary music festivals that ever were, and most of the world’s greatest concert venues. But even when performing in a Greenwich Village coffeehouse or a small club or regional theater, he was eternally grateful that people in any number turned up each time to hear him sing. More than anything, he feels incredibly blessed to have met so many of you along the way.