b. Odetta Holmes, 31 December 1930, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. This legendary folk singer moved to Los Angeles when she was six, adopting the surname of her new stepfather, Felious. A classically trained vocalist, Odetta sang in the chorus of the 1947 Broadway production of Finian's Rainbow, before opting for a career in folk music. Successful residencies in San Francisco clubs, the Hungry i and Tin Angel, inspired interest in New York circles although her early releases revealed a still maturing talent. She had been brought up in the blues tradition, but moved increasingly towards folk during the late 50s (she sung jazz and blues for the RCA Records and Riverside Records labels, and, only occasionally, folk for Tradition Records). Her blues was sung in the Bessie Smith tradition, but without the same level of emotion. Nevertheless, she recorded standards including "House Of The Rising Sun" and "Make Me A Pallet On The Floor". In 1960, she took to the solo acoustic guitar and moved to Vanguard Records where her career flourished. The singer was championed by Pete Seeger and Harry Belafonte, the latter of whom Odetta accompanied on a 1961 UK hit, "Hole In The Bucket'. Eventually Odetta fell foul of changing trends and fashions in music, and much was forgotten of her early work from the 50s and 60s. She continues to tour and is a fixture at political benefit concerts. In the late 90s she appeared to great effect on Nanci Griffith's Other Voices Too (A Trip Back To Bountiful). Possessed of a powerful voice, her style embraces gospel, jazz and blues. The emotional mixture of spiritual, ethnic and jazz styles is best captured in person, and, therefore, 1961's At Carnegie Hall and 1962"s At Town Hall remain her most representative sets.
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YouTube Videos
Odetta Live in concert 2005, "House of the Rising Sun" (04:21)
We were lucky enough to record Odetta on one of her most energetic and powerful nights in a long time. DVD on sale soon.
The Midnight Special / Odetta (03:43)
From THE WOODSONGS OLD-TIME RADIO HOUR. I don't know the date of this gig. The gig dates aren't stated at the WOODSONGS website.
Live
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The Velvet Hearts
- Frog and Wicket, Eversley Cross
- Jan 10, 2009
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Animal Collective
- KOKO, London
- Jan 12, 2009
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The News - - Manchester - -
- See Myspace for gigs..., Manchester
- Jan 12, 2009
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Bruno Gallone
- Ducking Stool, Leominster
- Jan 14, 2009
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Soft Toy Emergency
- Academy, Liverpool
- Jan 17, 2009
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Soft Toy Emergency
- Carling Academy, Liverpool
- Jan 17, 2009
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Bruno Gallone
- Railway Hotel, Evesham
- Jan 18, 2009
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All That Remains
- Carling Academy 2, Birmingham
- Jan 19, 2009
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All That Remains
- Academy 2, Birmingham
- Jan 19, 2009
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All That Remains
- Academy, Manchester
- Jan 21, 2009
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Discography
albums.
- Odetta And Larry - 1955 (Fantasy)
- Sings Ballads And Blues - 1956 (Tradition)
- At The Gate Of Horn - 1957 (Tradition)
- My Eyes Have Seen - 1960 (Vanguard)
- Sings The Ballad For Americans - 1960 (Vanguard)
- At Carnegie Hall - 1961 (Vanguard)
- Christmas Spirituals - 1961 (Vanguard)
- And The Blues - 1962 (Riverside)
- Sometimes I Feel Like Crying - 1962 (RCA Victor)
- At Town Hall - 1962 (Vanguard)
- Sings Folk Songs - 1963 (RCA Victor)
- One Grain Of Sand - 1963 (Vanguard)
- It's A Mighty World - 1964 (RCA Victor)
- Sings Of Many Things - 1964 (RCA Victor)
- Sings Dylan - 1965 (RCA Victor)
- In Japan - 1965 (RCA Victor)
- Sings The Blues - 1968 (RCA Victor)
- Sings - 1971 (Polydor)
- It's Impossible - 1978 (Four Leaf Clover)
- Movin' It On - 1987 (Rose Quartz)
- Christmas Spirituals - 1988 (Alcazar)
- To Ella - 1998 (Silverwolf)
- Blues Everywhere I Go - 1999 (M.C.)
- Livin' With The Blues - 2000 (Vanguard)
- Lookin' For A Home - 2001 (M.C.)
- Gonna Let It Shine - 2005 (MC)
Videos & DVD's
video and DVD releases.
- Exploring Life, Music And Song - 2000 (Homespun Video)
