FAN FRIDAYS

FAN FRIDAYS FAN FRIDAYS

Welcome to Fan Fridays, where I tell you about all of my favorite entertainers and others I've admired and respected over my many years of  fanatical devotion to people I don't really know, in most cases.

FAN FRIDAYS

On this Friday we discuss my favorite entertainer of all time...taa daa, taa daa! 

RICHIE HAVENS 

RICHIE HAVENSRICHIE RICHIE HAVENSRICHIE HAVENS

Richie Havens, My Favorite 

I'll never forget the first time I saw Richie Havens. 

It was at Woodstock .

I mean, in the movie.
I actually turned down the opportunity to go to Woodstock when I was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and a couple of guys in my platoon invited me to go with them to New York for the festival. 

I've ALWAYS done stupid things like that!

FAN FRIDAYFAN FRIDAYS FAN FRIDAYS

Back to Richie Havens...If I recollect correctly, Havens was the first act to appear in the movie, and I could not focus on any other band, singer, git fiddle playin' or anything after him!

I know I've told you this before, but allow me to  totally bore you once again.

I do not judge music by, how good the guitar player is, how high or low the singer can sing, how well the lyrics are written, or none of that logical stuff.

I go by how the music makes me feel inside, and if it puts me "THERE."

The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Guess Who, and the You Know Who, all put me "THERE" at times.

However, Richie Havens puts me "THERE" every time he sings, no matter what song he sings!

In fact, MOST of his songs are "covers," and that's something I usually do not like in performers. I want them to have original music.

Come on, folks, who would you rather hear sing "Just Like A Woman," the writer, Bob Dylan (world's worst singer, except for Yoko), or Richie Havens in his beautiful baritone voice?

FAN FRIDAYS

I saw Richie Havens live in concert 3 times and they were the 3 best concerts I've ever attended. (And I've seen The Beach Boys!)

Now, there is a song he wrote with ("Fiddler") Louis Gossett Jr. that is my favorite song of all time. 

If you take the time to listen to this song, I think you'll understand why I'm so nutty about my man Richie.

If you don't take the time to listen to this song, I don't blame you...It's a long song, and I know how busy you are.

Too bad, though, because you'll miss the opportunity to be lifted to the mellow, unbelievably gorgeous place I like to call "THERE!"

The title is simple, my friends, It's called Follow:

In conclusion, my cool and hilarious friend, Marty Wombacher, harassed and disrupted a concert given my beloved idol, Richie Havens, in his misspent youth.

You would probably think that this would be upsetting to me, and you would be correct, if the story wasn't such a scream!