Odetta

Odetta on vinyl: the voice of folk and the civil rights movement

In short: Odetta (1930–2008) from Birmingham, Alabama, sang folk, blues and spirituals with a mighty, warm voice. She became a voice of the civil rights movement and sang at the March on Washington in 1963. Martin Luther King called her “The Queen of American Folk Music”. The Vinyl Room currently has 5 Odetta records.

What makes Odetta special?

Her songs spoke of work, imprisonment and hope – sung with a power that shaped many young musicians, including Bob Dylan. “The Tin Angel” (1954) with Larry Mohr contains recordings made partly live at the Tin Angel club in San Francisco, and “At Carnegie Hall” shows her before a large audience.

“One Grain Of Sand” (1963) is one of her folk albums on Vanguard. On “Odetta Sings” (1970) she sings songs by her contemporaries.

From our stock

First pressings

Records by Odetta

→ Vanguard · Fantasy · Folk · Folk, world & country on vinyl

FAQ

Who was Odetta? A folk and blues singer from Alabama (1930–2008), a voice of the civil rights movement.

Where did she sing in 1963? At the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

What is “The Tin Angel”? An early 1954 album with guitarist Larry Mohr, named after a club in San Francisco.

Which records do you have? Records from the fifties to the seventies – 5 records in all.