Odetta

“Folk Singer – Roxbury, 1987” photo by Keith Jenkins https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithwj/2259299/ (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

American Singer, Guitarist, Actress and Activist • 1930-2008 • Folk, Spirituals, Blues, Jazz

Fast Facts

• Martin Luther King, Jr. called her The Queen of American Folk Music
• Performed folk tunes, spirituals and work songs, blues, children’s music, and jazz standards
• Born in segregated Birmingham, Alabama; as a child moved to Los Angeles, California
• Studied piano and classical voice; first performances were in musical theater
• Moved to New York City to pursue a career in folk music
• Through her music she was able to portray the racism and suffering experienced by black people in America
• Participated in the Civil Rights Movement at the 1963 March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery march
• Bob Dylan credits Odetta as the inspiration which brought him to folk music. 
• Received the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities and the Library of Congress’ Living Legends Award
• In 2008, was slated to perform at President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Ceremony but died just weeks before the event