i saw this movie when I was 18, and freshly graduated from college. I was a guitarist and gigging endlessly with blues and rock bands, and had been since I was about 13.
This momen in the move was absolutely electrifying. I was so profoundly moved by this particular performance that I went and bought every record I didn't already have by Havens and became a Havens clone for about a year. I bought a Guild D44 to aid in the process, though I never got a caftan.
As it turned out, I had already met Havens the summer before. I spent the summer of 1968 with my sister in DC, just off Dupont Circle. We use to go down there most nights to hang out. There was a guy who did pastel portraits of folks. I asked how much they cost, he pointed out that it was illegal to sell in the park, but that most people knew today was his birthday and "gifted" him 20 bucks.
I'm pretty sure that was Havens. I still think he has one of the most incredible voices in the business.
I've read that since many artists had not arrived (due to traffic jams and such) that as the first performer he was encouraged to go way long. He played three hours and came back for several encores. Freedom was a complete improv after he had more or less run out of material.
i saw this movie when I was 18, and freshly graduated from college. I was a guitarist and gigging endlessly with blues and rock bands, and had been since I was about 13.
ReplyDeleteThis momen in the move was absolutely electrifying. I was so profoundly moved by this particular performance that I went and bought every record I didn't already have by Havens and became a Havens clone for about a year. I bought a Guild D44 to aid in the process, though I never got a caftan.
As it turned out, I had already met Havens the summer before. I spent the summer of 1968 with my sister in DC, just off Dupont Circle. We use to go down there most nights to hang out. There was a guy who did pastel portraits of folks. I asked how much they cost, he pointed out that it was illegal to sell in the park, but that most people knew today was his birthday and "gifted" him 20 bucks.
I'm pretty sure that was Havens. I still think he has one of the most incredible voices in the business.
I've read that since many artists had not arrived (due to traffic jams and such) that as the first performer he was encouraged to go way long. He played three hours and came back for several encores. Freedom was a complete improv after he had more or less run out of material.
He's a demi-god to me.