ODETTA

'Odetta' (b. December 31, 1930) is an African-American singer and guitarist whose repertoire consists largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals. She was an important figure in the American folk music revival of the 1950s and '60s, and a formative influence on artists such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Janis Joplin.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Career beginnings

Acting career

1970s - 80s

Recent years

Influence

Discography

Filmography and TV appearances

Notes

External links

Biography

Early life

She was born in Birmingham, Alabama, grew up in Los Angeles, California, and studied music at Los Angeles City College. Having operatic training from the age of 13, her first professional experience was in musical theater in 1944, as an ensemble member for four years with the Hollywood Turnabout Puppet Theatre, working alongside Elsa Lanchester; she later joined the national touring company of the musical ''Finian's Rainbow'' in 1949.

Career beginnings

While on tour with ''Finian's Rainbow'', Odetta "fell in with an enthusiastic group of young balladeers in San Francisco", and after 1950 concentrated on folksinging.^[1]
She made her name by playing around the United States: at the Blue Angel nightclub (New York City), the hungry i (San Francisco), and Tin Angel (San Francisco), where she and Larry Mohr recorded ''Odetta and Larry'' in 1954, for Fantasy Records.
A solo career followed, with ''Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues'' (1956) and ''Odetta at the Gate of Horn'' (1957). ''Odetta Sings Folk Songs'' was one of 1963's best-selling folk albums.
In 1961, Martin Luther King, Jr. anointed her "The Queen of American folk music",^[2] and poet Maya Angelou once said,

Acting career

Having previous acting experience, Odetta has also acted in several films, notably in ''Cinerama Holiday'' (1955), the film of William Faulkner's ''Sanctuary'' (1961) and ''The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman'' (1974).
:''See Filmography.''

1970s - 80s

Changing her musical direction, Odetta used band arrangements rather than playing alone, and released music of a more "jazz" style music on albums like ''Odetta and The Blues'' (1965) and ''Odetta'' (1967).
Odetta only released two new albums in the 20-year period from 1977-1997: ''Movin' It On'' and ''Christmas Spirituals'', both in 1987.

Recent years

Beginning in 1998, she began working with new manager, Doug Yeager of Douglas A. Yeager Productions, Ltd., re-focused her energies on recording and touring and her career took on a major resurgence. The new CD ''To Ella'' (recorded live and dedicated to her old friend Ella Fitzgerald upon hearing of her passing before walking on stage),was released in 1998 on Silverwolf Records, followed by three new releases on M.C. Records M.C. Records, which cemented a partnership with pianist/arranger/producer Seth Farber and record producer Mark Carpentieri, including: "Blues Everywhere I Go", a 2000 Grammy Nominated blues/jazz band tribute album to the great lady blues singers of the 1920s and 1930s; ''Looking for a Home'', a 2002 W.C. Handy Award nominated band tribute to Lead Belly; and the 2007 Grammy Nominated ''Gonna Let It Shine'', a live album of gospel and spiritual songs supported by Seth Farber and The Holmes Brothers. These new recordings and an active world touring schedule created the demand for her guest star appearance on fourteen new albums of other artists (between 1999 and 2006), and the re-release of forty-five old Odetta albums and compilation appearances.
On September 29, 1999, President Bill Clinton presented Odetta with the National Endowment for the Arts' National Medal of the Arts & Humanities. In 2004, Odetta was honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington with the "Visionary Award" along with a tribute performance by Tracy Chapman. In 2005, the Library of Congress in Washington honored her with its' rare "Living Legend Award" (only the third time every awarded).
The 2005 documentary film ''No Direction Home'', directed by Martin Scorsese, highlights her musical influence on Bob Dylan, the subject of the documentary. The film contains an archive clip of Odetta performing "Waterboy" on TV in 1959, and we also hear Odetta's songs "Muleskinner Blues" and "No More Auction Block for Me".
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 also in a concert in the capital city of Riga's historic 1,000 year old Maza Guild Hall. In December, 2006, the Winnipeg Folk Festival honored Odetta with their "Lifetime Achievement Award." In February, 2007, The International Folk Alliance awarded Odetta as "Traditional Folk Artist of the Year." On March 24, 2007 a tribute concert to Odetta was presented in Washington, D.C. at the Rachel Schlessinger 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., Peter, Paul & Mary, Oscar Brand, Tom Rush, Jesse Winchester, Eric Andersen, Wavy Gravy, David Amram, Roger McGuinn, Robert Sims, Carolyn Hester, Donal Leace, Marie Knight, Side By Side, and Laura McKee (from Scotland).

Influence

Among the many musicians who cite Odetta as a major musical influence have been:

★ Janis Joplin - "Janis spent much of her adolescence listening to Odetta, who was also the first person Janis imitated when she started singing".^[3]

★ Bob Dylan, who said, "The first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta. I heard a record of hers [''Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues''] in a record store, back when you could listen to records right there in the store. Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustical guitar, a flat-top Gibson. ... [That album was] just something vital and personal. I learned all the songs on that record. It was her first and the songs were- 'Mule Skinner', 'Waterboy', 'Jack of Diamonds', ''Buked and Scorned'."^[4]
In 1965, Odetta recorded an album of Dylan covers, ''Odetta Sings Dylan''.

★ Joan Baez said "Odetta was a goddess. Her passion moved me. I learned everything she sang."^[5]

Discography

''
★
★ denotes Grammy nomination''.
''
★
★
★ denotes Grammy Winner
'Studio & live albums:'

★ 1954 ''The Tin Angel'' (with Larry Mohr)

★ 1956 ''Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues''

★ 1957 ''Odetta at the Gate of Horn''

★ 1959 ''My Eyes Have Seen''

★ 1960 ''Ballad For Americans and Other American Ballads''

★ 1960 ''Odetta At Carnegie Hall'' (live)

★ 1960 ''Christmas Spirituals''

★ 1962 ''Odetta and The Blues''

★ 1962 ''Sometimes I Feel Like Cryin'''

★ 1962 ''Odetta At Town Hall'' (live)

★ 1963 ''One Grain Of Sand''

★ 1963 ''Odetta Sings Folk Songs''
★
★

★ 1964 ''It's A Mighty World''

★ 1964 ''Odetta Sings Of Many Things''

★ 1965 ''Odetta Sings Dylan''

★ 1966 ''Odetta In Japan'' (live)

★ 1967 ''Odetta''

★ 1968 ''Odetta Sings the Blues''

★ 1970 ''Odetta Sings''

★ 1976 ''Odetta at the Best of Harlem'' (live) [4]

★ 1987 ''Movin' It On''

★ 1987 ''Odetta Sings Christmas Spirituals''

★ 1998 ''To Ella'' (live)
:''Also released as ''Odetta'' & ''American Folk Music Pioneer

★ 1999 ''Blues Everywhere I Go''
★
★

★ 2001 ''Looking for a Home''

★ 2002 ''Women In (E)motion''

★ 2005 ''Gonna Let It Shine''
★
★
'Compilations:'

★ 1963 ''Odetta''

★ 1967 ''The Best of Odetta''

★ 1973 ''The Essential Odetta'' (live)
:''This album is a combination of the ''Carnegie Hall'' & ''Town Hall'' albums''

★ 1994 ''

★ 1999 ''The Best of the Vanguard Years''

★ 2000 ''Livin' with the Blues''

★ 2000 ''Absolutely the Best''

★ 2002 ''The Tradition Masters''

★ 2006 ''Best of the M.C. Records Years 1999-2005''
'Albums on which Odetta features:'

★ 1959 ''Newport Folk Festival''

★ 1960 ''Belafonte Returns To Carnegie Hall'' (Harry Belafonte) [5]
Tracks: "I've Been Driving On Bald Mountain", "Water Boy", "There's a hole in the bucket"

★ 1960 ''Folk Festival At Newport Vol. 2''

★ 1963 ''Jimmy Witherspoon''
Track: duet on "Lonesome Road."

★ 1964 ''We Shall Overcome: The March on Washington''
★
★
★
Tracks: "Freedom Trilogy": "I’m on My Way", "Come and Go with Me" & "Oh Freedom".

★ 1968 ''A Tribute To Woodie Guthrie Vol. 1''
★
★
Track:"This Land Is Your Land/Narration" (with Arlo Guthrie & co. and Will Geer)

★ 1970 ''A Tribute To Woodie Guthrie Vol. 2'', ''"Pastures of Plenty"''

★ 1972 ''Greatest Songs of Woody Guthrie''

★ 1976 ''Aftertones'' (Janis Ian)

★ 1987 ''Songs of the Working People''

★ 1987 ''Greatest Folksingers of the 'Sixties''
★
★
Track:"John Henry"

★ 1988 ''Greenwich Folk Festival''

★ 1993 ''Other Voices, Other Rooms'' (Nanci Griffith)
★
★

★ 1993 ''Rare, Live and Classic'' (Joan Baez)

★ 1994 ''Freedom is a Constant Struggle''

★ 1995 ''Scenes from a Scene: Greenwich Village''

★ 1995 ''A Folksinger's Christmas''

★ 1995 ''Assassins in the Kingdom'' (Michael Jonathan)

★ 1996 ''At Home/Around the World'' (David Amram & Friends]])

★ 1997 ''

★ 1998 ''Other Voices TOO'' (Nanci Griffith)

★ 1998 ''Miriam McKeba-Odetta'' (Harry Belafonte)

★ 1998 '' [6]

★ 1998 ''Where Have All the Flowers Gone''

★ 1998 ''Original Seeds: Songs that Inspired Nick Cave''

★ 1998 ''Folk Hits of the 1960s''

★ 2000 ''Sounds of a Better World''

★ 2000 ''The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack''
★
★

★ 2000 ''Hyacinths and Thistles'' (the 6ths)
Track: "Waltzing Me All The Way Home"

★ 2000 ''Women of Silverworlf''

★ 2000 ''Rollin' Into Memphis: Songs of John Hiatt''

★ 2000 ''Gospel''

★ 2000 ''Route 50: Driving New Routes''

★ 2000 ''Queens of the Blues''

★ 2001 ''Roger McGuinn: Treasures from the Folk Den''
★
★

★ 2001 ''Washington Square Memories''

★ 2001 ''Jazz Ladies''

★ 2001 ''Say Yo' Business''

★ 2001 ''Philadelphia Folk Festival: 40th Anniversary''

★ 2001 ''Say It Out Loud''

★ 2001 ''Folk Music''

★ 2001 ''Sounds of a Better World'' (Small Voices Calling) [7]

★ 2002 ''Blues Treasures''

★ 2002 ''This Land Is Your Land''

★ 2002 ''Soul & Inspiration''

★ 2003 ''Broken Hearted Blues''

★ 2003 ''Blues Had a Baby & It's Rock 'n Roll''

★ 2003 ''In the Wind''

★ 2003 ''Beginner's Guide to Folk Music''

★ 2003 ''Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger''

★ 2003 ''Respond II'' [8]

★ 2003 ''The Prestige Blues Sampler''

★ 2003 ''Corner of Bleeker and Blues''

★ 2003 ''Best of M.C. Records 1996-2002''

★ 2003 ''Let Freedom Sing''

★ 2003 ''Best of Kerrville Festival''

★ 2003 ''Patriot's Songbook''

★ 2003 ''Blue Box of Blues''

★ 2003 ''Shout Sister Shout: Rosetta Tharpe Tribute''

★ 2004 ''Baby Don't Tear My Clothes'' (James Cotton)

★ 2004 ''Ladies Man'' (Pinetop Perkins)
★
★

★ 2004 ''My Country Awake: Freedom Compilation''

★ 2004 ''Eric Bibb & Friends''

★ 2004 ''Salute to the Blues: Listening in the Bottle''

★ 2005 ''Folk: The Life, Times & Music Series''

Filmography and TV appearances

'Film/programme title'	'Info'	'Year'
''Cinerama Holiday''	Film	1955
''Lamp Onto My Feet''	TV	1956
''Tonight with Belafonte''	TV/Musical Variety	1959 (Emmy Award)
''Toast of the Town''	TV [9]	1960
''Sanctuary''	Drama[10]	1961
''Have Gun — Will Travel'' episode 159/226: ''"The Hanging of Aaron Gibbs"''	TV drama[11]	1961
''Les Crane Show''	TV/Talk/Variety	1965
''Festival''	documentary film[12]	1967
''Live from the Bitter End''	TV - Concert	1967
''Clown Town'' starring Odetta & Bobby Vinton	NBC Music Special	1968
''The Dick Cavett Show''	TV/Talk/Variety	1969
''The Johnny Cash Show''	TV/Musical Variety	1969
''The Virginia Graham Show''	TV [13]	1971
''The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman''	TV film	1974
''Soundstage: Just Folks'' with Odetta, Tom Paxton, Josh White, Jr. and Bob Gibson	TV - Concert Special	1980
''Ramblin': with Odetta''	TV - Concert Special	1981
''Chords of Fame''	doc.[14]	1984
''Boston Pops'' with Odetta, Shirley Verrett and Boys Choir of Harlem	TV - Concert	1991
''Tommy Makem & Friends''	TV - Concert	1992
''The Fire Next Time''	TV film[15]	1993
''Turnabout The Story of the Yale Puppeteers''	doc.[16]	1993
''Odetta: Woman In (E)motion''	German TV - Concert Special	1995
''Peter, Paul and Mary: Lifelines''	TV [17]	1996
''National Medial of Arts and Humanities Presentations''	C-Span TV	1999
''The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack''	Drama[18]	2000
''21st Annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards''	Awards ceremony[19]	2000
''Songs for a Better World''	TV - Concert Special	2000
''Later with Jools Holland'' with Odetta, and Bill Wyman & His Rhythm Kings	BBC-TV	2001
''Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher''	TV Talk Show	2001
''Late Night with David Letterman''	TV/Talk/Variety Show	2001
''Pure Oxygen''	TV - Talk Show	2002
Newport Folk Festival	TV - Concert Special	2002
''Janis Joplin: Pieces of My Heart''	BBC-TV Biography Special	2002
''	doc.[20]	2003
''Tennessee Ernie Ford Show''	TV Musical Variety (Re-Broadcast)	2003
''Ralph Bunch: An American Odyssey''	PBS-TV Biography	2003
''Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin''	PBS-TV Biography	2003
''Visonary Awards Presentation''	PBS-TV - Award Presentation	2004
''Lightning in a Bottle - Salute to the Blues''	doc.[21]	2004
''No Direction Home''	doc.	2005
''Talking Bob Dylan Blues''	BBC-TV Concert Special	2005
''Odetta: Blues Diva''	PBS-TV - Concert Special	2005
''Odetta: Viss Notiek''	Weekly Journal	2006

Notes

1. Odetta biography, 1956: back cover of "Sings Ballads and Blues"
2. Folk Alley radio - about Odetta
3. Janisjoplin.net - page about Odetta's influence on Janis Joplin
4. ''Playboy'' interview with Bob Dylan, March 1978
5. Loder, Kurt (1983). "Joan Baez: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone 4/14/83 (issue # 393)

External links

★ Odetta at the All Music Guide Biography

★ A page from her current record company, MC Records

★ A page from her management company, Concerted Efforts

★ Odetta Vanguard Records

★ Fan page at Geocities

★ Odetta biography and video interview excerpts by The National Visionary Leadership Project