WoodSongs 500: Richie Havens

Richie Havens is an icon of the folk world who first rose to fame in the music scene that also fostered Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. In 1969 Havens opened the Woodstock Festival. His performance received continuous ovations and he kept playing encores until he ran out of songs. Finally, he decided to improvise a version of "Motherless Child"; the song was featured in the Woodstock film, and became an international hit. On April 22, 2013, Havens died of a heart attack at home in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was 72.