28 Facts About Odetta

Odetta Holmes, known as Odetta, was an American singer, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement".

When Flora remarried a man called Zadock Felious, Odetta took her stepfather's last name.

In 1940 Odetta's teacher noticed her vocal talents, "A teacher told my mother that I had a voice, that maybe I should study," she recalled.

Flora had hoped to see her daughter follow in the footsteps of Marian Anderson, but Odetta doubted a large black girl like herself would ever perform at the Metropolitan Opera.

Odetta made her name playing at the Blue Angel nightclub in New York City, and the hungry i in San Francisco.

At Tin Angel in San Francisco in 1953 and 1954, Odetta recorded the album Odetta and Larry with Larry Mohr for Fantasy Records.

Odetta sang "Water Boy" and a duet with Belafonte, "There's a Hole in My Bucket".

Also in 1961, the duo Harry Belafonte and Odetta made number 32 in the UK Singles Chart with the song "There's a Hole in the Bucket".

Odetta is remembered for her performance at March on Washington, the 1963 civil rights demonstration, at which she sang "O Freedom".

Odetta described her role in the civil rights movement as "one of the privates in a very big army".

Odetta gave a remarkable performance in 1968 at the Woody Guthrie memorial concert.

Odetta acted in several films during this period, including Cinerama Holiday ; a cinematic production of William Faulkner's Sanctuary ; and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.

Odetta was married twice, first to Dan Gordon and then, after their divorce, to blues singer-guitarist Iverson Minter, known as Louisiana Red.

Odetta spoke about her spirituality, the music tradition from which she drew, and her involvement in civil rights struggles.

In 1976, Odetta performed in the US Bicentennial opera Be Glad Then, America by John La Montaine, as the Muse for America; with Donald Gramm, Richard Lewis and the Penn State University Choir and the Pittsburgh Symphony.

In 1982, Odetta was an artist-in-residence at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

Odetta released two albums in the 20-year period from 1977 to 1997: Movin' It On, in 1987 and a new version of Christmas Spirituals, produced by Rachel Faro, in 1988.

In 2004, Odetta was honored at the Kennedy Center with the "Visionary Award" along with a tribute performance by Tracy Chapman.

In mid-September 2001, Odetta performed with the Boys' Choir of Harlem on the Late Show with David Letterman, appearing on the first show after Letterman resumed broadcasting, having been off the air for several nights following the events of September 11; they performed "This Little Light of Mine".

In 2006, Odetta opened shows for jazz vocalist Madeleine Peyroux, and in 2006 she toured the US, Canada, and Europe accompanied by her pianist, which included being presented by the US Embassy in Latvia as the keynote speaker at a human rights conference, and in a concert in Riga's historic 1,000-year-old Maza Guild Hall.

On March 24,2007, a tribute concert to Odetta was presented at the Rachel Schlesinger Theatre by the World Folk Music Association with live performance and video tributes by Pete Seeger, Madeleine Peyroux, Harry Belafonte, Janis Ian, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Josh White Jr.

Odetta toured around North America in late 2006 and early 2007 to support this CD.

On January 21,2008, Odetta was the keynote speaker at San Diego's Martin Luther King Jr.

Odetta was honored on May 8,2008, at a historic tribute night, hosted by Wavy Gravy, held at Banjo Jim's in the East Village.

Odetta made an appearance on June 30,2008, at The Bitter End on Bleecker Street, in New York City for a concert in tribute to Liam Clancy.

In November 2008, Odetta's health began to decline and she began receiving treatment at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

Odetta had hoped to perform at Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20,2009, but she died of heart disease in New York City on December 2,2008, at the age of 77.

Odetta became a 2024 inductee to the Blues Hall of Fame.