Odetta has this way of swallowing you whole with that giant voice of hers, but to be consumed by such power is not something I shy away from!
An extremely iconic and influencing artist, Odetta was a singer-songwriter, guitarist and a civil and human rights activist who has often been referred to as “The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement!”
Her musical repertoire incorporated a fine mix of folk, blues, jazz and spirituals and as an important figure in the American folk music revival of the 1950’s and 1960’s, she influenced so many important artists including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin.
Harry Belafonte once cited her as a “key influence” on his musical career, Martin Luther King Jr named her the “Queen of American folk music”, whilst Bob Dylan claimed that, “The first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta. I heard a record of hers Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues in a record store, back when you could listen to records right there in the store. Right then and there, I went out and traded my electric guitar and amplifier for an acoustical guitar, a flat-top Gibson. . . . ”
Joan Baez declared that, “Odetta was a goddess” whilst Janis Joplin (who spent much of her youth listening to Odetta) claimed that “she was the first person that she imitated when she started singing.”
Bull Jine Run featured on Odetta’s 1964, It’s a Mighty World album which was released by RCA Victor. It’s a lovely record from start to finish (I’ve pasted it all below) and you won’t go wrong if you take some time out to listen to these 12 mighty fine tracks – I’d even go as far as to say that its a treat you well-deserve! Enjoy!
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