Richie Havens

Richard Pierce Havens (January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013) was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist whose music offered a unique blend of folk, soul, and rhythm and blues. He became iconic for his rhythmic guitar style, often played in open tunings, and was revered as the opening act at Woodstock. Apart from his considerable contribution to music, he made considerable strides in the advertising world, lending his voice to numerous television commercials and becoming the voice of the GeoSafari toys. Born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, Havens was of Native American (Blackfoot) descent on his father's side and British West Indies on his mother's. As a young boy, Havens started organizing his neighborhood friends into a street corner doo-wop group and by the age of 16, he was performing with the McCrea Gospel Singers. His early years were marked by his departure from Brooklyn to artistic stimulation found in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. Throughout his career, Havens recorded more than 25 albums and his live performances earned him widespread acclaim. Apart from music, Havens also dipped his toes in acting during the 1970s. Towards the end of his career, Havens came together with Groove Armada in 2000 for the retro 1970s-style song 'Hands of Time'.