32K views · 94 reactions | Richie Havens’ legendary Woodstock performance set the tone, but it almost didn’t happen. “They were chasing me, because I was running.” Check your local PBS listings for “Woodstock: 50 Years Later” or https://bit.ly/2KkF3hK #woodstock #woodstock69 #richiehavens | CultureSonar | Facebook

“[The song, “Freedom”] doesn’t belong to me anyway… It belongs to everything that made it come out.” -Richie Havens on his song, “Freedom” At 5:07 pm on the evening of 8/15/1969, Richie Havens opened Woodstock. With many other musicians in the lineup stuck in traffic, Havens sat playing song after song until he finally ran out of material. Havens had to improvise and composed “Freedom” on the spot. | Woodstock

Artist Spotlight: Richie Havens ☮️ Richie Havens' performance at Woodstock in 1969 was unforgettable. He was the first to take the stage, starting the festival amidst delays and chaos. With no set list and a crowd of 400,000 waiting, Havens played a powerful, emotional set, including an extended version of his song "Freedom" that would become synonymous with the event. His soulful voice and heartfelt guitar playing captured the spirit of Woodstock—peace, love, and unity. Havens connected deeply