Odetta, Voice of Civil Rights Movement, Dies at 77

[festivalgirl]

No words ..........

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/12/02/arts/03odetta_600a.JPG

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

The cause was heart disease, said her manager, Doug Yeager.

He added that she had been hoping to sing at Barack Obama’s inauguration.

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

[peteup]

I'm glad she finally saw the day. RIP beautiful lady.

[ozzie]

What a beautiful woman... inside and out. Rest peacefully.

[chrisjoseph]

Am deeply sad, but not surprised. We saw her at UCLA 2-3 months ago, and she looked very ill. She's a legend, and will be missed.

[Staxsun]

Truly sad. I know how much she was looking forward to singing at the inauguration. I feel fortunate to have met her and had the chance to talk a few times. Very inspirational lady! My favorite N.O. related story is the one year at the Handy Awards that she was to sing. They had arranged Henry Butler to back her, and she had no idea who he was. Working together with no runthrough and cueing off of a blind piano player, she was a little nervous about it. Of course Henry was perfect and they later went on to record together.

[saturn]

A version of her singing House of the Rising Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aaya8jYZBO8&feature=related

[glinda]

Truly sad. I know how much she was looking forward to singing at the inauguration. I feel fortunate to have met her and had the chance to talk a few times. Very inspirational lady! My favorite N.O. related story is the one year at the Handy Awards that she was to sing. They had arranged Henry Butler to back her, and she had no idea who he was. Working together with no runthrough and cueing off of a blind piano player, she was a little nervous about it. Of course Henry was perfect and they later went on to record together.
Great story, stax.

Truly a legend and a great lady. RIP Odetta.

[ibjamn]

I read that this morning and was very sad. RIP.

[kapeman]

I wanted to share this with all of you

Dear Family and Friends of Odetta,

The Grand Lady Odetta passed this evening at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. Formore than a decade she fought the brave fight with chronic heart disease and pulmonary fibrosis in her lungs. The tribute concert in her honor on March 24, 2007 in Washington was supposed to be her swan song. At the time, her doctors said she could never leave her bed with oxygen for the remainder of her life. However, she got out of that bed and went on to give dozens of concerts around the worldsince that time. Just seven weeks ago, she performed before tens of thousands of fans at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park with Emmie Lou Harris, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, T-Bone Burnett and Wavy Gravy sitting mesmerized below her at the stage. Even though she had been getting weaker through the month she refused to cancel any of her upcoming concerts. However, onOctober 31st, after returning from concerts in Toronto she entered the hospital for tests. The next day she went into kidney failure. For the next three and one half weeks she battled on -- at all times lucid, and determined to sing at Obama's Inauguration. She went into cardiac arrestthis evening. Her old heart just couldn't fight any more. Her spirit, her will and her determination were greater than anyone I had ever known. I don't think Joe Louis could have lasted one round with Odetta!

Eighteen months ago, Odetta and I were invited to thepublisher's office of the New York Times to give her oral history obituary. The arrangement with them was that we would not tell anyone about the oral history obituary, that they would be the first to publish her obituary, and that the readers' could then view the oral obit Odetta gave by clicking on the New York Times website.Because I didn't get back from the hospital after Odetta's transition until 10:00 pm tonight and wasn't able to speak toTim Weiner, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who interviewed her until10:45 pm, I don't think it will bemaking the front page, but has been given royal treatment.

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

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



May Odetta's luminous spirit and volcanic voice from the heavens live on for the ages. Though I know she will always be with me, I will be missing her. . .

Doug Yeager,
Manager of Odetta

[festbabe]

A version of her singing House of the Rising Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aaya8jYZBO8&feature=related

oh. wow.

[mightyradgumbo]

very sad indeed

[denideadhead]

She inspired empowered and engaged me. Blessed to have heard her blessed to have met her I will never forget her! Miss Odetta was the real deal.
My heart is so hurt by her passing!!

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Special Odetta Tribute on B.B. King's Bluesville on Sunday
SIRIUS XM Radio will broadcast a special tribute in honor of the life and musical career of beloved folk singer Odetta, who passed away on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at the age of 77.
SIRIUS XM radio will rebroadcast Odetta’s guest appearance on Artist Confidential on B.B. King's Bluesville on SIRIUS channel 74 and XM channel 74. SIRIUS XM listeners will hear Odetta sing in her singular and powerful voice several memorable songs, including “This Little Light of Mine,” “So Strong” and “Midnight Special.” The encore broadcast of Odetta on Artist Confidential will air on Sunday, December 7 at 12 pm ET.

Odetta, a forceful singer during the folk music revival and civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 1960s, championed the downtrodden by reviving slave, prison and work songs.

[kapeman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE69He8dAFQ

lovely tribute

[festbabe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE69He8dAFQ

lovely tribute

Yes, thanks.

[Earthmother]

this weekend on (in ?) wolfgang's vault: Odetta at Berkeley Community Theatre 5/15/1998.
See here : news@wolfgangsvault.com

A Great woman.....