Role

:

Performer

Birth

:

December 31, 1930 in Birmingham, AL

Death

:

December 2, 2008 in New York City, NY

 

Odetta Holmes, known professionally as Odetta, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and civil rights activist. She was born on December 31, 1930, in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her father was a skilled musician who played the guitar, banjo, and violin, and her mother was a gospel singer. Odetta was exposed to music from an early age and began singing in church choirs as a child. Odetta's interest in folk music began in the 1940s when she heard Lead Belly's recordings. She was inspired by his music and began learning to play the guitar. In the early 1950s, she moved to San Francisco and began performing in coffeehouses and clubs. She quickly gained a following and was soon performing at some of the most prestigious venues in the country, including Carnegie Hall and the Newport Folk Festival. Odetta's music was a blend of traditional folk songs, blues, and spirituals. Her powerful voice and commanding stage presence made her a favorite among audiences and critics alike. She was known for her ability to convey the emotions of the songs she sang, and her performances were often described as deeply moving. In 1956, Odetta released her first album, "Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues." The album was a critical success and helped to establish her as one of the leading voices in the folk music revival. Over the next few years, she released several more albums, including "At the Gate of Horn" and "My Eyes Have Seen." In addition to her music career, Odetta was also a prominent civil rights activist. She was a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and performed at many of the rallies and marches of the civil rights movement. Her music became a symbol of the struggle for equality and justice, and she was often referred to as the "voice of the civil rights movement." One of Odetta's most memorable performances was at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. She sang "O Freedom" and "I'm On My Way" to a crowd of over 250,000 people, including Martin Luther King Jr. The performance was a defining moment in the civil rights movement and helped to inspire a generation of activists. Odetta continued to perform and record throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She released several more albums, including "Odetta Sings Dylan" and "To Ella." She also appeared in several films and television shows, including "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" and "Sesame Street." In recognition of her contributions to music and civil rights, Odetta received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1999, she was inducted into the International Folk Music Hall of Fame. In 2004, she received the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush. She was also awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005. Odetta passed away on December 2, 2008, at the age of 77. Her legacy as a musician and civil rights activist continues to inspire people around the world. She was a trailblazer who used her voice to speak out against injustice and to bring people together through the power of music.

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