Thank you, Richie Havens...

I swear just last week, I had a moment where I stop in my tracks and checked if Richie Havens was still with us... Just knowing that he was out there, somewhere humming to himself, stroking his long grey monk beard offered comfort in dark times. Somehow the world seemed more peaceful with him in it.

I can't remember the first time I heard "Freedom" but I know it was when I was young enough to only have access to my parents record collection (My first record was the Grease soundtrack, 1978 followed by the Fame soundtrack, 1980 and the Xanadu soundtrack, also 1980- I guess I only thought music came from movies back then and P.S. I still have all three of those records and Free to Be- You and Me which probably was before 1978 but that was more of a family investment). ANYHOOO, back to Richie...

Freedom- that song got to me at age like, 5. It was haunting and uplifting at the same time. It was rhythmic and soulful and simple and it was mine. I put it my pocket.

Now, I was not a motherless child (thank god, blessed with Vicky!) but as I grew into my adulthood and was further, physically and emotionally, from home that song stayed with me... There were moments as a sat in the ghetto in Belize City with 15 year old gang kids, homemade gun tattoos engraved into their arms, as I sweated in the Badlands and Turkey, as I walked in a pilgrimage from Philadelphia to Washington DC that song, Richie Haven's voice bubbled up and hugged me. It made me feel comforted and so alone all at the same time, like those moments in relationships when you know you are more part of an individual than a unit. But knowing that he was there, that such a song existed made me feel like I was always exactly where I need to be.

Years later and many more evocation of that song in my life, I was walking around Lincoln Plaza in early December. I had just moved back to the East Coast and have no idea what I was doing in those parts as I rarely left Brooklyn with the exception of work.

As if almost by an external force, I stumbled into this church and followed signs up the stairs that read "Concert". As I came to an entrance, the signage changed to "Concert: Richie Havens". I walked right into to the right of the stage and had myself a seat in front of my icon, my father, my long time musical embraser.

I relished every note this man sang, mumbled, shouted, strummed... and when he came to Freedom, I shivered and cried all at once.

Thank you, Richie, for never leaving me alone in a world were I often have been.