It didn’t seem as if she could ever die. A classically trained voice and a soul the size of Wyoming. In the dictionary, under the term of “force of nature,” there is Odetta’s picture. (Or at least there should be.)
The New York Times has a wonderful tribute to this incredible woman with the voice that was an instrument like no other.
I grew up listening to her, Pete Seeger and Miriam Makeba. I knew their songs as a kid. Now Seeger is the only one remaining.
Yes, yes thank you for posting this. What a lovely voice, emdodying at once beauty, stregth and wisdom. I was lucky enough to see her at a local folk festival a number of years back. Let it shine, indeed. long live odetta
Odetta’s voice will reverb through the ages. Does anyone find it ironic/cruel/depriving that Miriam Makeba AND Odetta should die within such a short time? I never had heard Odatta’s guttural sound she made in conjunction with her guitar body like is in that first clip. Now Miriam with her “African click” had intrigued us for years. Sad we had to lose both these icons so close, but fitting they should live to witness Barack’s election.
Now all we have left is Joan Baez (still very sexy) the ever-morphing Dylan, and the crusty old Commie Pete Seeger ( I wonder how he’d speak in regards the UAW’s contract nowadays?) It’s all groovy, love Joe……..