Richie Havens Interview

Richie Havens ~ The nicest man on Earth ~ Interviewed on Earth Day

http://www.examiner.com/x-17121-Chicago-Live-Music-Examiner~y2009m7d16-Richie-Havens--The-nicest-man-on-Earth--Interviewed-on-Earth-Day

July 16, 2009
by Roger Reis

On a twenty below zero night in the 1960's, a night club called "It's
Here" was the first place the folk music mastermind was heard in
Chicago. The night club title represented itself as the place to be
and really wasn't. After two weeks with a slice of both sides of
Chicago, Richie Havens can honestly say he doesn't get cold anymore,
despite his frigid experience. His career didn't start here in the
windy city, but he refers to Chicago as a great place to play.

Best known for his opening performance at Woodstock (1969), Richie
wrote the song "Freedom" on stage when he ran out of material after
almost 3 hours of playing. His variation of "Motherless Child" was
born, and is still one of his most popular works of art today. The
Woodstock performance by Richie Havens is a shining moment in music
history and at the time was not thought of as a large political
statement. Richie had recalled his generation as the "Speak when you
are spoken to generation" and Woodstock was the point where that
generation said "You can't hide us anymore." He had only spent one
night at the grounds and left the next day. He passed the seven mile
stretch of kids sitting on their cars and recalls the experience as
being a great time. The world may have been protesting through the
music being created at the time, but his protest music originally was
rock n' roll.

Richie started performing in the Do Wop era and first started playing
guitar with the approach that the six strings were six different
voices. He played the guitar with the technique of a dulcimer in a
dropped D tuning style to sing and play in Greenwich Village. He
describes that the "rhythm keeps you connected" to the song and
within his acoustic style, it gives his powerful voice a chance to
express his thoughts. Influenced heavily by Fred Neil, Havens
developed a playing style that was very unique and all his own.

While Havens was performing in the village, other artists developed
their acts there as well. As they played and performed at the local
coffee shops, they grew their inner souls musically and became
themselves. Louis Gossett Jr. was performing an acoustic act at the
same time and was playing in a style of hitting and slapping at the
guitar without actually ever touching the strings. Gossett co wrote
the song "Handsome Johnny" up until the Dunkirk War verse and then
handed it over to Richie unfinished. This was during the Viet Nam War
and Gossett told Havens you know how to finish it from here. The song
is soon going to appear in a new movie about Woodstock and has been a
folk music classic for four decades.

Havens also watched the late Richard Pryor perform and develop his
comical act for about six years within the village. During this time
frame, Pryor had never used any curse words at all and never did
until a sad experience brought out his more popular styles of comedy
through profanity. Havens later appeared in the movie, "Greased
Lightning" in a smaller part along side Richard Pryor. Havens
describes Pryor as, "An incredible talent" and will be missed. Havens
had been able to rub elbows during his musical career with Joplin,
Morrison, and Hendrix; Havens modestly referred to them all as
"Cordial people."

While others were getting lost within experimental drugs in the 60's
and 70's, Richie was getting lost spiritually. Havens had stopped
drinking at the age of 19 because he had a bad experience from
drinking too much. He had to sit in one position for three days to
help recoup his body from the punishment he put himself through. He
never drank again after that.

Havens gives back to the community through an organization that was
started in 1980 called The Natural Guard. The organization teaches
kids how to use their own environment to succeed in life. Richie
believes the idea that, "If you tell kids the truth it opens the door
for the kids. It gives kids the kit to move forward. Once you do
that, you can't stop them." He continued to explain the approach that
is to inform the kids that the adults, "We know nothing." By
explaining it like this to the kids, it makes them see adults in a
more realistic way. He states that the children really "They know
more than we do." He is a father, a grandfather, and jokes that, "All
kids are older than me."

Havens political stance leans more to the backing of the Democratic
Party. In 1993, he played for Bill Clinton at his inaugural
celebration and now is backing Barack Obama. Richie feels, " It's a
change. Seeing everyone come together from both sides, we can say 'We
did it.'" He further explains, "There have been lies told to us," but
"It's going to work itself out."

Richie has had several great accomplishes over the years. He opened
the Woodstock Music Festival, been in a couple of movies, and
performed two days in a row on The Tonight Show. He recalls his list
of accolades, "I didn't look at it as success. It educated me.
Basically I didn't pressure myself to perform." The acoustical artist
talked further about his happiness and the way his career evolved. "I
couldn't ask for anything more. The audience allowed me to play.
Without them, I would be nothing." Asked if there was anything he
would like to change, "Not one thing."

Havens currently plays a good amount of shows every year and recently
released the CD Nobody Left To Crown. Now 68 years old, his musical
arrangements are backed by guitar virtuoso Walter Parks. The
incredible guitarist compliments Richie's style in an way that is
enjoyable to the ears. There are no guitar technicians, no enormous
sound ensembles, and no fancy light shows. Richie will be singing and
playing away in his unique style with the delicate guitar melodies
behind him from Walter. There have been a wide range of songs covered
by Richie over the years. He doesn't usually look to cover a piece of
work, the songs seek him out. He has approximately 20 acoustics, most
are the same make and model. He will play them so hard he eventually
wears a hole in them. He has been given acoustics after people see
the battle damage his guitars have gone through. As the guitars are
given to him the comment is made, "Don't play that one, play this one."

In a recent performance Havens ended the show with a simultaneous
last strum on the guitar and a giant leap in the air, kicking his
heels together. In regards to his remarkable health, "I don't get
sick. I can't afford to get sick. I'm a night owl. I don't drink
anything. I eat once a day if I remember and I try never to go to sleep."

From the performances in the coffee shops in Greenwich Village, to
opening the Woodstock musical experience, to his performances on The
Tonight Show, Richie Havens has touched so many people deep down in
their soul with his music. He has supplied influence and inspiration
to many musicians over the years. The peaceful tranquility is a
tremendous gift that has been passed through his musical notes. To
know Richie Havens is to love him and he is truly "The nicest guy on Earth."

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