It was as a live performer that Havens first earned widespread notice. By decade's end, he was in great demand in colleges across the country ("I must have played every campus in America at least three times," he says, grateful for students' early support), as well as on the international folk and pop club circuit. Richie played the 1966 Newport Folk Festival; the 1967 Monterey Jazz Festival; the January 1968 Woody Guthrie Memorial Concert at Carnegie Hall; the December 1968 Miami Pop Festival; the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival; and, of course, the 1969 Woodstock festival in upstate New York. Havens' Woodstock appearance proved to be a major turning point in his career. As the festival's opening act, he held the multitudes spellbound for nearly three hours. Called back for yet another encore, he improvised a song based on the old spiritual "Motherless Child" that became "Freedom," which eventually reached an audience of millions.

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Ticket Price: $35, $45