|
 I loved Richie Havens and was sad to hear that he died last week at his home in Jersey City, just across the river from where he grew up in Brooklyn and spent his early years in Greenwich Village.
While he will always be remembered for his plaintiff, rasping voice and his opening the Woodstock festival, he also lent his talent to many advertising commercials during the 1980s and 90s.
Havens was not supposed to open Woodstock. He had been scheduled as the fifth act. But when traffic closed the N.Y. Thruway, many acts were stuck in place. Havens, who had arrived by helicopter, was asked to lead off. He ended up playing for three hours as other acts had still not arrived. He eventually ran out of songs and ended up improvising the spiritual "Motherless Child," which became "Freedom," a song that has been used in many motion pictures, including the recent "Django Unchained."
Another little known fact, he co-wrote one of his signature songs, "Handsome Johnny," with future actor Lou Gossett, Jr.
Perfect voice for advertising
Havens' voice was perfect for advertising because it was so distinctive and impassioned. In 1982, he composed and performed a promotional slogan for NBC's TV season entitled, "We're NBC, Just Watch Us Now." He also performed slogans for CBS and ABC and recorded commercials for Maxwell House Coffee and the cotton industry, with the tune "The Fabric of Our Lives."
In fact, when he performed at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, he was asked to sing the "Cotton song" from the commercials ... and he did (no surprise to anyone who knew him).
All Aboard America  | | Vintage Amtrak TV Commercials |
Most memorable were his Amtrak commercials, which were beautifully shot. In the attached reel, he can be heard in the last three spots, singing "There's something about a train that's magic ... All Aboard America ... All Aboard Amtrak."
He knew how to give back Despite his songs of rousing inspiration, Richie Havens was one of the most friendly, affable entertainers of his time. Throughout the years, he performed at many charity benefit concerts. He formed the Northwind Undersea Institute, an oceanographic children's museum on City Island in the Bronx. The museum led to the creation of The Natural Guard, an organization that educates children about the environment. A memorial service was held yesterday. He was cremated last week and this summer his ashes will be spread in upstate New York, over the fields of the Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center, formerly known as Max Yasgur's farm, Woodstock. Bill Carlos President |
