Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip: Odetta

Sunday Diva/Three From The Hip:

Odetta

In my own, personal, big gay church, there is a wing dedicated to Those of the Heart. These are the singers, songwriters and muses who have spent a lifetime capturing various aspects of the human condition. Frequently, due to the whims of the music industry, their lives were not always their own... but they persevered... ultimately remaining true to their roles as seers of the heart. One such soul?

Odetta.

From the earth. The voice of humankind.

When her father died, she and her mother moved to Los Angeles, where she took her stepfather's last name as her own.

There, a voice teacher told her mother she had 'something special' and should study voice.

While her mother hoped she would be the next Marian Anderson, Odetta didn't think they would let a big-bodied black girl sing at the Met (though, she did go on to sing at Carnegie Hall!)

A touring production of Finian's Rainbow got her in touch with the folk underground. She found her niche, found her sound and a solo career quickly followed.

Her 1963 album, Odetta Sings Folk Songs was one of the best-selling folk albums of the year.

She was the voice of those forgotten. Those downtrodden. Those left behind.

She became a fierce advocate and activist, frequently referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement."

And she had her champions; Johnny Cash and Harry Belafonte among them.

In 1961, Martin Luther King, Jr. dubbed her "The Queen of American Folk Music."

Her voice and unique style has been cited as an influence by such artists as Janis Ian, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Mavis Staples.

And her reach remains as powerful as ever, even today.

The gospel according to her?

Well, here are three from the hip, dropping from her lips.

The Topic? Becoming Your Own Person

"You're walking down life's road, society's foot is on your throat, every which way you turn you can't get from under that foot. And you reach a fork in the road and you can either lie down and die, or insist upon your life."

"I am no longer willing to be who you want me to be; I’m going to write my own narrative."

"No one can dub you with dignity. That's yours to claim."  

"The better we feel about ourselves, the fewer times we have to knock somebody else down to feel tall." 

Waterboy - Odetta

Medley Of Blues - Odetta

Careless Love - Odetta

And one last parting shot...

"If your neighbor looks at you like they don't enjoy the key you're singing in, look right back, bless them, and keep on singing."