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Posts tagged as “heart attack”

R.I.P. Legendary Woodstock Singer and Songwriter Richie Havens

By goodblacknews on April 23, 2013
Richie Havens performs at the 'Woodstock 40th Anniversary' Blu-Ray release party at Hard Rock Cafe - Times Square June 4, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)
Richie Havens performs at the ‘Woodstock 40th Anniversary’ Blu-Ray release party at Hard Rock Cafe – Times Square June 4, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (AP) — Richie Havens, who sang and strummed for a sea of people at Woodstock, has died of a heart attack Monday, his family said in a statement. He was 72.  Havens, a folk singer and guitarist, was the first performer at the three-day 1969 Woodstock Festival. He returned to the site during the 40th anniversary in 2009.

“Everything in my life, and so many others, is attached to that train,” he said in a 2009 interview with The Associated Press.  Havens was born in Brooklyn. He was known for his crafty guitar work and cover songs, including his well-received impersonation of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman.”
The singer’s website said he had kidney surgery years ago and that he never recovered enough to perform concerts like he used to.  Havens performed at Bill Clinton’s presidential Inauguration in 1993. He has released more than 25 albums. His last album was 2008′s “Nobody Left to Crown.”
“I really sing songs that move me,” he said in an interview with The Denver Post. “I’m not in show business; I’m in the communications business. That’s what it’s about for me.”  A public memorial will be planned for a later date.
Below is one of his most popular songs, a cover version of “Here Comes The Sun”:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBbXKsKXyNU&w=420&h=315]
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press via thegrio.com

R.I.P. Michael Clarke Duncan

By goodblacknews on September 3, 2012

Actor Michael Clarke Duncan, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in 1999′s The Green Mile, died today at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center. He was 54. The actor had been hospitalized in July following a heart attack. Although Duncan was best known for playing a death row inmate alongside Tom Hanks in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel The Green Mile, the actor appeared in dozens of film and TV projects throughout his career, including The Green Lantern,Armageddon, Sin City and The Scorpion King on the feature side and TV’s The Finder and Chuck. He just recently completed In The Hive with director Robert Townsend and the boxing drama The Challenger.
Learn more about his life and career here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Clarke_Duncan