Topic: RIP Odetta

[Mr.OMuck]

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 -- 11:48 PM ET
-----

Odetta, Freedom's Voice, Dies at 77

Odetta, the singer whose deep voice wove together the
strongest songs of American folk music and the civil rights
movement, died on Tuesday. She was 77.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na
This Video is well worth watching

For me, growing up, after Leadbelly, Big Bill, Josh White, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie & The Weavers and before discovering Gary Davis, Robert Johnson, Jean Ritchie, Doc Watson, Dave Van Ronk, Joan Baez , Bob Dylan and the great class of 1963 Blues rediscoveries, there was Odetta. From about 1958 to 1961 she was IT! A big voiced, short haired beautiful Afro Goddess, with a super cool Larson Bros. Dreadnaught with extra large pickgurads that still makes me drool. I got to spend a bit of time with her in the 70's around the later incarnation of Gerde's Folk City and never quite got over my early fan boy awe of her BIG, yea MIGHTY voice. I did however manage to express my admiration for those Vanguard records I grew up with though. She was Mrs. Louisiana Red there for a while. I have a feeling the last years were not kind to her, but remember what I'm tellin' ya: Once upon a time she was Hot and Cool and IT!

[Mike Brosnan]

 

[lindy]

Last time I saw her was at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in '02 ('01?), and she was still feisty as ever and still able to inspire a crowd. (Utah Phillips was there, too, leading us all in "Solidarity Forever").

For a while in the mid-1960s it seemed like she was everywhere I went, Pete Seeger concerts to clean up the Hudson River, sit-ins at local draft boards, big marches up to Central Park. She got people to sing along with her, and kept the atmosphere cool when it could've gotten hot.

Read all about it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/arts/music/03odetta.html?hp

Lindy

ps Jack of Diamonds, the topic of a recent thread, was on her first LP.

[markm]

"She was Mrs. Louisiana Red there for a while."

  Never heard that. 

Mark

[Bunker Hill]

"She was Mrs. Louisiana Red there for a while."
  Never heard that. 
Mark

From memory they got married in 1977 until he took off to Germany around 1982.

[markm]

Wow, very interesting. I wonder how Red is doing.  He is a very sensitive guy.  I am sure he quite affected by her passing.

Mark

[lindy]

Almost 20 minute-long video on her life at

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/arts/20081203_odetta.html?hp

Lindy

[Bill Roggensack]

I have had the privilege of seeing Odetta several times, but one stands out from the rest. She was performing in community hall. The lights were low, with a few candles lit on the stage. She came in from stage left in a beautiful kaftan with a silk scarf, with piles of Navajo silver jewelry and her hair tied up in another silk scarf. She was an imposing sight to behold. When she sat down on her chair in front of the microphone (in what had been a noisy room), everyone immediately went dead silent. You could have heard a pin drop. Then she started speaking in her deep, soft voice, each sentence carefully paced with perfect locution. She had us the palm of her hand for the next two hours, through which she sang and told stories without taking a break. Just thinking of her renditions of songs like "Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime" and "Loaves and Fishes" makes the hair on my arms stand on end.
At folk festival appearances in more recent years, she was a bit unsteady on her feet, and starting to show her age with a few "seniors moments," but when she sang, she definitely still had "it." The last time I saw her, she was being looked after by a very respectful Eric Bibb, who had probably known her since he was a sprout.
Odetta has put her distinctive touch on a vast repertoire, and with a voice that most of us could probably identify within a couple of bars. I don't listen to XM Bluesville very much, but last week, I fortuitously caught the rebroadcast of a concert and interview she did in their studios. Her stories kept me in my car long after I should have been in sitting at my desk hard at work. I'll try to log my time to bereavement leave and see what the boss has to say.
Rest in peace.

[Chris A]

Odetta was a very warm, caring person whose talent reached beyond her singing. I always thought that she should have been given greater opportunity as an actress (anyone see "Sanctuary"?).

Many years ago, when she heard that I was sick and bed-ridden, Odetta showed up at my door, carrying a sumptuous "soul food" meal that she had cooked for me. Her visit surprised me, but her thoughtfulness didn't?I had already seen much evidence of that.

[waxwing]

Welcome to Weenie campbell, Chris.

All for now.
John C.

[uncle bud]

Yes, welcome Chris. And the burning question is: were you cured by Odetta's cooking?

Great story.

[CF]

A third hello & welcome Chris. Just reread my edition of Bessie. What a great book.

[Chris A]

My thanks to all for the warm welcome. I hope I will have something to contribute to this fine forum, the existence of which I just discovered.

Chris

[Parlor Picker]

BBC4 aired an excellent half-hour documentary about Odetta last night. She came across as a very intelligent, thoughtful woman with a good sense of humour. It will probably be available to watch again on the BBC iPlayer (especially thinking you all you colonials over the water).