Odetta: 1930-2008

[capri0mni]

Los Angeles Times Obituary

As someone who grew up in the environmental and peace movements, I was blessed with several opportunities to see her perform live. When she walked out on stage, she took over that space, whether it was an enclosed theater, or an outdoor stage at a festival, she owned that space. And she had the sweetest, richest, deepest, voice I've ever heard, both in terms of its timbre, and the things it had to say.

I was in the front row of an outdoor concert, when I heard her introduce an old folksong from the South this way (may be paraphrased by memory):

"There's a proverb in the South that says you should never trust a crowing hen, or a whilstling woman; *Whistles the tune of the song*"

{sigh}

Comments

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I didn't grow up in either movement, but my parents were always fans of folk music, and we had several of her albums. I know my dad was especially fond of her music.

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

Definitely one of the greatest voices in History. Don't know about all time, but certainly one of the greatest since human voices have been recorded onto portable devices.

I was not at all surprised when I read in that LA obit that she had trained for the opera stage, since she was a young girl.

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

Yes; her voice was unspeakably delicious. I am so sad to hear this!

[capriuni.livejournal.com]

"delicious" is a wonderful and true way to put it.