Brooklyn-born Richie Havens started his career in the Greenwich Village folk and poetry circles of the early 1960s and released his first record in 1965. He became known for his live performances that featured his soulful vocals and heavy rhythmic guitar playing. His opening set at the Woodstock Festival was the pivotal point in his career; after playing for nearly three hours he was called out for several encores, and the subsequent Woodstock movie brought him international acclaim. He has also contributed to several film soundtracks and has collaborated with artists such as Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett.
