When the Woodstock Music & Art Fair changed the world in 1969, one act had to open the show and at 5:07 PM on Friday, August 15, folk legend RICHIE HAVENS was the chosen one as echoes of "freedom, freedom, freedom" resonated throughout the crowd of 500,000. Havens died yesterday (April 22nd) of cardiac arrest at age 72. Brooklyn-born, he is best known for his intense and rhythmic guitar style, soulful covers of pop and folk songs, according to Wikipedia.

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE) remembers Havens fondly:

"I was saddened when I learned about the death of Richie. I had met him twice. Unfortunately both times were at funerals for mutual friends and family members.

The first time was at the late great TSO vocalist Daryl Pediford's funeral, Richie took me to the side and said he wanted me to know that Daryl loved me a lot and always considered me his little brother. Richie was I believe Daryl's Godfather and took him under his wing at a very young age. Some of you may not know but Daryl played guitar in KOOL AND THE GANG and was a bad ass guitarist! Daryl would teach me secrets that Richie and Jimmy Hendrix had showed him as a kid. Secrets of the real Blues Gods!

The next time was at guitarist Bill Perry's funeral. Billy played with Richie when he wasn't doing his own tours. Bill was a dear friend and an incredible amazing musician. Billy could hold his own with the greatest blues guitarists ever any day!

Right now these three blues rock legends are jamming somewhere with Etta James, Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Miles, Felix Pappalardi and Jimmy Hendrix somewhere in Blues heaven!"