Folk music star Richie Havens dead at 72

NEWARK, N.J., April 23 (UPI) -- Folk music icon Richie Havens died of a heart attack at his home in New Jersey, his publicist said. He was 72.

The Brooklyn, N.Y., native is best known as the artist who opened the 1969 Woodstock music festival. Among his hits are "Freedom," "Just Like a Woman," "Here Comes the Sun," "Handsome Johnny," "No Opportunity Necessary" and "Stop Pulling and Pushing Me."

He retired from performing in March 2012, citing health issues, and died Monday.

"I don't feel one iota different from the day I walked into Greenwich Village [50 years prior,]" Havens told Billboard magazine when he turned 70.

"Everything I hoped for has happened," he said. "I never had a bad day on stage. I don't think I'm ever going to go away... least while I'm alive."