RIP RIchie Havens

So sad to hear of Richie Havens' passing today. He was a remarkable musician and story teller, and a lovely human being.

I saw him perform numerous times over the years, but the last time (2009) was truly the most memorable. It was an intimate evening at Onondaga Community College and I was fortunate enough to be seated a couple of rows back right in front of him. I felt as though he was singing directly to me and telling me his life story. It was just me and Richie in that room! That's the effect this man's music had on me.

After the show, I expressed these feelings to him, and he said, "That's what music is all about!" He gave me a hug and I left feeling as though something very important had happened to me. RIP Richie. You will be missed.

I couldn't find any video from that night, but he performed one of my favorite songs, "Here Comes the Sun" that night similar to this: