HILE AT THE Woodstock Festival in '69, I happened - unbeknownst to me - to get filmed in an action response to Ritchie Havens singing "OH FREEDOM" , when he exhorted the crowd to clap hands and sing. ZOOM! Camera work - focuses on some guy's back (...moi), then a PAN back to wide angle of the crowd...and the movie cuts back to Richie singing, "I got a telephone in my bosom..."

For some fun, roll your cursor over the thumbpic...

INCE the Festival movie came out, FREEDOM has been a major theme in my life, and is the focus of much of my songwriting. Back in '91, Mr. Havens and the Nobody Special in the audience got to meet at a rally on the Ellipse in D.C.. When I drew his attention to the scene in the film, even he raised his arm and pointed, like so many others did back when the movie came out, “You're the guy who jumps up in the audience!” A humongous bear hug followed. In the past few years, I've attended two Havens concerts - one at the Tibetan Culture Center, here in Monroe County, Indiana, and the other at a beatiful listening space called the Tabernacle, in Mt. Tabor, NJ. The man has not lost his “spark” - I am happy to say. I ordered his new CD TIME from his web site (linked above - and on my musical influences page), and I'm happy to say the live performances show Richie in fine fettle! Do yourselves a favor and check out his home page for info on TIME. I especially like "I Was Educated By Myself". Upon listening, I daresay you will understand how the song is not a chest-beating bit of braggadoccio at all, but a much needed REVELATION of how to survive whatever adversity flings your way...not to mention the fine "rhapsodic" piano playing...