Died On This Date (April 22, 2013) Richie Havens / Iconic American Folk Singer
themusicsover Richie Havens
January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013
Richie Havens was a world-renowned folk singer whose intense guitar-playing and renditions of others’ works endeared him to a legion of fans since the mid ’60s. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Havens was still a child when he started out singing in corner doo-wop groups. At 16, he became a member of the McCrea Gospel Singers. In his early 20s, Havens threw himself into the Greenwich Village folk scene where he began building his reputation as a premier solo act. He made two albums with Douglas Records before signing on with Bob Dylan‘s manager, Albert Grossman who brought him to Verve Forecast Records and thus taking his career to the next level. Over the next several years, Havens released such classic albums as Mixed Bag, Something Else Again, and Richard P. Havens. His recordings of “Here Comes The Sun,” “Just Like A Woman,” and “Freedom” helped define the era. On August 15, 1969, Havens kicked off the Woodstock Festival with a remarkable three-hour set – partly due to instructions to stretch as many of the performers were late in getting to the grounds, and partly because of being called back to the stage for multiple encores. After he was showcased in the festival’s subsequent documentary film, Havens found devoted fans the world over. Havens also dabbled in acting, winning small roles in such films as Catch My Soul, Greased Lightning, Hearts Of Fire, and I’m Not There. Havens continued to record and perform as recently as 2009. In March of 2012, it was announced that Havens was retiring from the road after 45 years due to health concerns. Richie Havens died of a heart attack on April 22, 2013. He was 72.
What You Should Own
Dani Crivelli was a rock drummer who once played behind Swiss metal band, Krokus. Born in Solothurn, Switzerland, Crivelli joined the band in 1987 and played on their 1988 release, Heart Attack. The album ultimate reached #87 on the US charts. Following the tour behind Heart Attack, the group splintered with Crivelli and a couple other members continuing on with a new lead singer. That incarnation was short-lived and failed to make any recordings. Prior to his run with Krokus, Crivelli played in two other Swiss bands, Killer and Ain’t Dead Yet. On April 21, 2013, it was announced that Dani Crivelli passed away earlier in the day. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Storm Thorgerson was a renowned graphic artist whose catalog includes some of rock music’s most famous album covers. Born in Middlesex, England, Thorgerson went to high school with 
Cordell “Boogie” Mosson was a longtime member of the legendary funk outfits, Parliament and Funkadelic. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Mosson moved to Canada when he was still a teenager, and it was there that he began playing bass for a group called United Soul. The band soon caught the ear of George Clinton who produced several of their records. In 1972, Clinton asked Mosson to join Funkadelic, eventually moving over to Parliament when original bassist, Bootsy Collins decided to focus more on his solo career. Often overshadowed by all that is Bootsy, Mosson deserves plenty, if not as much credit for the overall P-Funk sound. He was a key contributor to the group’s output during the mid to late ’70s and performed with the various incarnations of P-Funk up until the time of his death. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic. Cordell Mosson was 60 when he passed away on April 18, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.