Richie Havens Dead: Folk Singer Died of Heart Attack at 72, Remembered for Legendary Performance of 'Freedom' at Woodstock, 1969 [VIDEO]

Richie Havens, folk singer whose 1969 Woodstock performance of the song "Freedom" made him a legend, died of a heart attack at 72 on Monday morning in his Jersey City home.

His 1969 improvised performance of, "'Freedom' came from a totally spontaneous place," Mr. Havens told the New York Times. The set was only supposed to be four songs long, however, other bands were late, so he continued playing past the end of his allotted time slot.

True folkies will always remember him as a true embodiment of their generation and everything that they stood for, with his very distinct rhythmic style of playing guitar and his gritty, soulful vocals.

In 2009, Havens returned to Woodstock for the festival's 40th anniversary and performed a reprisal of "Freedom." In the evening he told the crowd, "My generation was very, very special, because we had the best-looking generation. We look good... still," according to USA Today.

Havens was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1941 and entered the folk music scene in the '60s by way of Greenwich Village.

He performed in a variety of different venues from the Isle of Wight to the Fillmore to Carnegie Hall, according to the New York Times.

He performed at President Clinton's first inauguration in 1993 and his rendition of "Handsome Johnny" became an anthem of the opposition felt toward the Vietnam War.

In 2003, he received the American Eagle Award from the National Music Council to honor his influence in the musical heritage of this country.

He also recorded over a dozen albums, acted in television and films, and emphasized the importance of environmental education. He saw ecological education as a very important aspect of his live. "I'm not in show business. I'm in the communications business," he said, according to the New York Times.

In March of 2012, Havens announced his retirement from touring due to health concerns after he had undergone kidney surgery. He appeared on the stage a few times after the surgery as well.

He was an inspiration to many. In a 2004 interview with USA Today, Jack Black told the publication that his band 'Tenacious D' was inspired by Havens, "because we couldn't believe how hard a guy could rock with an acoustic guitar."

"A person looking at him might think he was just flailing about,"guitarist, Barry Oliver, told Guitar Player Magazine. "But the way he flailed about was so musical, and it went perfectly with what he was portraying. He's a good example of not having to have to be a technically perfect guitarist in order to come across."

Thousands of people have paid tribute to Havens on Twitter including fellow musicians, radio DJs, music magazines and other media outlets, according to Contactmusic.

British DJ, Danny Baker posted a message that said, "RIP Richie Havens. Such a shock. A giant to me. Just about the most serene, noble musician I ever met." Musician, Jason Isbell also tweeted, "Ran into Richie Havens in an airport bar years ago. A truly kind, friendly man on top of all his other attributes. He will be missed." Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello tweeted, "RIP Richie Havens. A great talent, great soul," and, in a later post, "Playing Richie Havens 'Minstrel From Gaul' now in his memory. Really great song, performance. Check it."

"While his family greatly appreciates that Richie's many fans are also mourning this loss, they do ask for privacy during this difficult time," relatives wrote in a statement, according to starpulse.com.

A media release announced Havens' death and stated that a public memorial will be planned, according to USA Today.