b. Richard Pierce Havens, 21st January 1941, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
Richie Havens isn't considered as a Soul Artist at all in many musical circles, however, his contribution to Black Music has been immense.
His frenetic vocal delivery demands the listeners attention undeniably.
Richie was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.
He relocated to Greenwich Village in 1961 and later signed to Douglas Records later in 1965 recording two albums.
Two years later Richie signed to the new section of the MGM imprint, a folk division called Verve Forecast.
By the time he released his third album 'Mixed Bag' (1967), Richie was beginning to achieve some success.
'Something Else Again' followed in 1968, with his fourth, third, and second albums charting the same year in timeline descending release order.
In 1969, the double album 'Richard P. Havens 1983' was released and then he appeared at Woodstock the same year.
This concert made Richie a household name, and was followed by a movie of the event a year later.
'The Great Blind Degree' followed on the Stormy Forest imprint in 1971, and included an excellent version of the James Taylor song, 'Fire & Rain'.
By the end of the '70's, Richie had ceased recording and began concentrated on live performances.
One oddity came via the album 'Connections' for the Elektra label in 1980.
The album contained a version of the Lamont Dozier evergreen 'Going Back To My Roots', which became a very popular dance tune on the emerging House Music scene some eight years, after it's initial release.
He returned to recording in 1987, with a new album entitled, 'Simple Things', an album of Bob Dylan and Beatles covers along with a compilation.
By 1991, Richie signed his first major-label deal in 15 years when he signed to the Sony Music imprint and released 'Now'.
'The Best of Richie Havens' followed on Rhino in 1993, along with 'The Classics' on Rebound in 1995 and '20th Century Masters - The Millennium' for Polygram in 2000.
By 2006, Richie was touring, performing at London's Jazz Cafe that year.
Albums:
Mixed Bag (Verve 1967)
The Richie Havens Record (Douglas 1968)
Electric Havens (Douglas 1968)
Somethin' Else Again (Verve 1968)
1984 (Verve 1968)
Richard P. Havens, 1983 (Verve 1969)
Stonehenge (Stormy Forest 1970)
A State of Mind (Verve 1971)
Alarm Clock (Stormy Forest 1971)
The Great Blind Degree (Stormy Forest 1971)
Richie Havens on Stage [live] (Stormy Forest 1973)
Portfolio (Stormy Forest 1973)
Catch My Soul (Metromedia 1973)
Mixed Bag 2 (Stormy Forest 1974)
Richie Havens (Polydor 1975)
The End of the Beginning (A & M 1976)
Mirage (A & M 1977)
Connections (Elektra 1980)
Common Ground (EMI 1984)
Simple Things (RBI 1987)
Live at the Cellar Door (Five Star 1990)
Sings Beatles & Dylan (Rykodisc 1990)
Now (Solar / Epic 1991)
Yes (Solar 1994)
Cuts to the Chase (Polydor 1994)
Collection (Rykodisc 1987)
Resume: The Best of Richie Havens (Rhino 1993)
The Classics (Rebound 1995)
20th Century Masters - The Millennium... (Polygram 2000)
