Rest in Peace, Odetta

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 2 Dec 2008 9:34 pm

Folk singer Odetta has passed away.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/arts/ ... detta.html

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 2 Dec 2008 10:59 pm

Wow...she was just at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco two months ago.

RIP Odetta, a true American original.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 3 Dec 2008 12:03 am

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 3 Dec 2008 9:31 am

Sad news. Odetta was one of my guitar heroes when I was a teenager. She is of course best known for her singing, but she was also an outstanding guitar player.

She recently appeared on a TV show called "Blues Divas" with among others, Mavis Staples. I was disappointed that she did not play on the show.

BTW, Mavis Staples stole the show.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 3 Dec 2008 3:09 pm

More Odetta, a LOT less Britney!

Dave Harmonson · Post by **Dave Harmonson** » 3 Dec 2008 9:50 pm

She definitely had a huge presence and a big voice. Rest well dear lady.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 4 Dec 2008 5:23 am

I still have my brother & sister's original (and well worn) copy of "Odetta Sings Blues & Ballads." If you want to hear a sample of this great singer's work, go to iTunes and download "Jack of Diamonds," "Been in the Pen," "Deep Blue Sea," "Santy Anno." I promise you will hear one of the best sounding Gibson flat tops ever!

Peter Dollard · Post by **Peter Dollard** » 4 Dec 2008 10:23 am

I loved Odettas style. In my opinion she was the only one who really delivered a believable version of Muleskinner Blues; when she sang it was a blues, not the lame version by the Fenderman(buck,buck,buckett around)or the acceptable but not serious version by Dolly Parton. As for Bluegrass Bill Monroe made it his own in a bluegrass format. She did a record with a banjo player named Larry something in the middle fifties(Odetta and Larry)where she did the best Cottonfields I have ever heard soulful not sappy like The Highwaymen. I will miss her....Peter

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 4 Dec 2008 6:01 pm

Ironic, that she was in the forefront of the civil rights movement and contributed immensely to bring about the changes we have witnessed so far.

Too bad her wish to sing at Obama's inauguration will never come to pass.

To sing on the doorstep of the White House, that was built mostly by slaves; who could never envision a black man actually taking up residence therein.

RIP, Odetta

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 4 Dec 2008 7:53 pm

Odetta was one of the best since Bessie Smith. Jody.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 4 Dec 2008 7:56 pm

Mike, sounds like you have a lot of extra time on hand. Dolly, etc. Jody.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 5 Dec 2008 12:12 am

Very sad!

One of my brushes with greatness was when I was a young barefoot hippy at a "love-in" in Denver's Washington Park in the summer of 1967. I cut my foot on some broken glass before my band did it's set. Odetta, who was one of the main acts, took it upon herself to clean and patch my foot up so I could play. I'll never forget the almost saintly quality I felt from her that day. Later that night, she blessed us all with music equally saintly.

Heavy sigh.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Rest in Peace, Odetta

Rest in Peace, Odetta

Great Version Of Muleskinner Blues