Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Odetta Holmes, R. I. P.

Odetta Holmes dies at 77; folk singer championed black history, civil rights - Los Angeles Times: "Odetta, the classically trained folk, blues and gospel singer who used her powerfully rich and dusky voice to champion African American music and civil rights issues for more than half a century starting in the folk revival of the 1950s, has died. She was 77."

3 comments:

Todd Mason said...

Miriam Makeba, and Odetta. We don't need a third, thanks.

Cap'n Bob said...

I thought she was old when I first heard of her in the sixties. I'm amazed she was only 77.

stankerr said...

This was one outstanding lady. For one of her last shows, a fundraiser for a Black school at St James Episcopal Church in east Austin, Texas, she was wheeled out with an oxygen bottle and still blew people away with the power of her voice and the beauty of her spirit. I liked the song she sang at the end of the movie The Monitors- that was the first time i heard her. She'll be missed.