Odetta
Singer, musician
Odetta Rank
About Odetta
Odetta was an American folk singer, actress and civil/human rights activist known for her jazz and spiritual music.
Education
Odetta trained in opera at age thirteen and then studied at Belmont High School and Angeles City College where she graduated with a degree in classical music.
Career
In 1944 she worked at the Hollywood Turnabout Puppet Theatre as an ensemble member, and after five years she toured with the band Finian’s Rainbow during which she developed interest in folk music.
Concerts
She played live at several events and places such as the Blue Angel nightclub in New York. She performed at the October 2008 concert at the San Francisco Golden Gate Park which happened to be her last concert.
In 2008, she toured North America where she performed in a wheelchair at age 77.
Films and Television shows
Odetta appeared on many TV shows including “Tonight with Belafonte” and “Tennessee Ernie Ford Show”.
She featured in many films and TV documentaries including “Have Gun, Will Travel”, “The Fire Next Time” and the 1967 documentary “Festival”
Songs
Some of her impressive records include the albums “Movin’ It On”, “Christmas Spirituals”, “Blues Everywhere I Go” and “To Ella”.
Awards and Honors
Martin Luther King Jr named her “The Queen of American Folk Music” in 1961 while Bill Clinton awarded her the National Medal of Arts in 1999.
She was also honored with the Visionary Award at the Kennedy Centre in 2004.
In 2005, she received the “Living Legend Award” from the Library of Congress in 2005.
Her album “Gonna Let it Shine” and other albums got Grammy nominations as well.
Odetta Rank
Odetta photo gallery
F.A.Q. about Odetta
When is her birthday?
Odetta's birthday is on December 31, 1930.
In how many days is her birthday?
Odetta's birthday is in 278 days
How old was Odetta when she died?
She was 77 years old.
When did she die?
She died in December 2, 2008.
How old would she be today?
Odetta would be 93 years old if she was alive today.
Where was Odetta from?
She was born in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S..