What is Odetta's full name?
Odetta Holmes
Odetta nickname(s):
Odetta Felious (her stepfather's surname), Odetta Gordon, Odetta
Odetta date of birth:
December 31, 1930
How old was Odetta when died?
77
Where was Odetta born?
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
When did Odetta die?
December 2, 2008
Where did Odetta die?
New York City
Why did Odetta die?
heart disease
Odetta body shape:
Large
What color is Odetta's hair?
Black
What is Odetta's ethnicity?
Black
What is Odetta nationality?
American
What is Odetta's occupation?
Singer, musician
What genre is Odetta's work?
Folk, Blues, Spirituals, Country Blues, Jazz Blues, blues, spirituals, country blues, jazz blues
What instruments does Odetta play?
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard, acoustic guitar, keyboard
Short Biography
Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter, and a civil and human rights activist, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals. An important figure in the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, she was influential to many of the key figures of the folk-revival of that time, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin. Time included her song "Take This Hammer" on its list of the All-Time 100 Songs, stating that "Rosa Parks was her No. 1 fan, and Martin Luther King Jr. called her the queen of American folk music."