Imagine 3 young black
teenagers who are feeling restricted by conventions, sitting down in a
theatre to watch this Woodstock film that we had heard of. We expected
to see a bunch of blonde hippy girls on the screen, and other people
that looked nothing like us. And the first musicians we see are these
totally funky brothers sitting, not standing but sitting down on the
stage, blues funking some folky roots soul stuff. And seriously making
it sweat! Not playing some loud guitar solo, but playing acoustically,
like they are stuck inside a mobile freak-out located somewhere between Nassau and Harlem.
If
Woodstock was the landmark event of 60's culture, it was Richie Havens
that announced and proclaimed the event, gave the initial spark, by
being the festival's opening act. His dignity, and humility gave validity
to the word 'hippy'.
You hope when you die you go to the same place that he is.
