Richie Havens Trivia Quiz

Answer: Brooklyn, New York

Richard Pierce Havens was born in Brooklyn on January 21, 1941. The other choices given all pertain to places either directly relevant to his life or his parents' origins.

Answer: Mixed Bag

The 1966 release 'Mixed Bag' was the first record by Richie on the Vanguard Records label. Some people consider it to be his best album. It did chart and went to number eighteen on the Billboard Jazz Charts in 1967. It also eventually went to number 182 in the Billboard pop charts in 1968.

After its release Douglas Records released two albums of older material that he had recorded for them: 'Electric Havens' (1968) and 'Richie Havens' Record' (1969). 'Richard P Havens 1983' is the double album through which most people discovered the man.

There is no such album as 'The First Richie Havens Album'

Answer: Stormy Forest

In 1970 Richie Havens started his own record label and called it Stormy Forest. The label's first release was Richie's 'Stonehenge' LP in 1970.

Answer: Othello

The 1974 film 'Catch My Soul' was produced by Jack Good and Richard M. Rosenbloom, and directed by Patrick McGoohan. It is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Othello" and it was filmed in the desert of New Mexico. The plot has been changed somewhat in that Othello is recast as a pacifist leader of a hippie commune.

This was Richie's first ever acting role. Apparently Richie also wrote one or two songs for the movie soundtrack as well (sorry but there is precious little precise information about this film that I can find online).

Answer: The Northwind Institute & The Natural Guard

Richie was very committed to teaching young people about economic issues and towards the mid 1970s he devoted more and more energy to this. He helped found the Northwind Undersea Institute, an oceanographic children's museum which was located on City Island in the Bronx which, in turn, led to his creating the National Guard, the purpose of which was (To quote Richie here) "...a way of helping kids learn that they can have a hands-on role in affecting the environment. Children study the land, water, and air in their own communities and see how they can make positive changes from something as simple as planting a garden in an abandoned lot.".

Answer: We're NBC, just watch us now

In the 1980s Richie did an unusual amount of work recording slogans for television advertising (for NBC, CBS and ABC!) as well as product advertising (Amtrak, Maxwell House Coffee, The Cotton Industry and Coca Cola) all the while keeping up his rigorous concert touring schedule around the world as well as releasing new albums at a steady pace!

Answer: Bill Clinton

Richie performed at Bill Clinton's 1993 presidential inauguration. Among the selections he chose to perform was the bizarre choice of "The Fabric of Our Lives" theme song he recorded for the cotton industry - one of his most popular and well known songs due to a series of television ads in the early 1990s!

Answer: Groove Armada

Groove Armada. The British electronic duo composed of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay band that recorded the great "I See You Baby". Yep. One and the same. Apparently the band and Richie liked the experience so much that he was used again for two additional future collaborations with the band on the songs "Little By Little" and "Healing".

Answer: The American Eagle Award

In 2003 Richie Havens, William Warfield, The Waverly Consort were all the recipients of The American Eagle Award, an award which honors individuals and institutions who have made comprehensive contributions to musical life in America.

Answer: April 22, 2013

Richie Havens passed away on April 22, 2013. He is still extremely missed by people who loved his music and chances are slim to none that we will have another musician that matches him for his utterly unique interpretations of other people's songs or his or his deeply emotional singing style. Richie was one of a kind.