Flying In the Acts
The Woodstock festival’s opening act, Sweetwater, faced traffic delays and missed their scheduled slot. In this unexpected turn of events, Richie Havens stepped in to kick-start the festivities. His impromptu performance spanned hours, and, in a remarkable twist, he delved into Beatles covers and composed an on-the-spot song titled “Freedom,” which became a Woodstock anthem.
But Havens couldn’t go on playing tirelessly forever. Eventually, the organizers arranged for a helicopter to airlift the originally scheduled performers.
Next: Where was Bob Dylan?
