Mike McMearty, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Richie Havens’ career took off after he opened Woodstock in 1969.
Now that site, also known as Max Yasgur’s farm, will be his final resting place.
Free tickets to witness the scattering of Havens ashes on Aug. 18, at what is now Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, went on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. and were sold out by early afternoon.
Havens died in April from a heart attack. He was 72.
Havens opened Woodstock’s three days of peace and music in the Catskills mountains of New York.
The back story: Havens played for three hours because traffic to get into the festival grounds was so bad the highway was shut down. Many performers had to be flown in.
He performed several encores and when he ran out of tunes, he improvised. The song “Freedom” which famously opens the documentary, “Woodstock” was him riffing off the old spiritual “Motherless Child.”
Woodstock is credited for launching his career which spanned 45 years and well over 20 albums.
Aug. 18 is being called a day of song and remembrance of Haven’s life with guest performers and speakers to be announced.
Below is video of Richie Havens’ performance at Woodstock:
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