Wednesday, December 3, 2008

ODETTA R.I.P.

It's hard to believe she was only 77!

Hearing recordings of her singing in the 1950s and '60s, she already sounded like some ancient treasure rediscovered to bring strength and inspiration to our more modern times.

To realize now that she was only in her twenties when she had such a huge impact on "American" music, e.g. the young Bob Dylan, and just turning thirty when she sang at the 1963 march on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, is breathttaking. I didn't know that then, and am amazed to discover it now, only on news of her death.

3 comments:

Ed Baker said...

used to goo see her "gig" at The Showboat Lounge

my friend Margie Feldman's dad was a partner with Charlie Byrd
in the club..

Donald Leese among others played there also lots of jazz... Miles Davis, Bill Evans Trio, etc... this was in D.C. across from the Ambassador Theater 18th & Columbia Rd 1950' '60's

Anonymous said...

when they ask you what you are...say you are a child of God....her version of that song was one of the songs that changed my life.

Ed Baker said...

well I just watched for the first time Lethal Weapon... WOW!

they got that son-o-a-bith (was that Busey? before he got ....?

pure poetry this movie better than any Rambo flick!

and just before the end Mel says to his partner:

"I'll tell you a little secret ...I aint crazy."


and his partner replies "Yeah, I know"

etc