Odetta May 25, 2006

At 75, folk/blues icon, Odetta remains one of the most influential folk artists of the 20th Century with one of the most powerful and recognizable voices in the field. Her classic recordings of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands," "Kumbaya," "Goodnight Irene," and "This Little Light of Mine," became folk and spiritual classics which inspired an entire generation. Born in Alabama, Odetta grew up in Los Angeles. A visit to a San Francisco Bay coffeehouse featuring folk music awakened her interest in that genre and thus began her long career. In NYC, she was quickly embraced by the Greenwich Village folk community soon appearing with Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall and with Pete Seeger at Town Hall. Odetta has recorded nearly 30 albums. Early on she was referred to as "the female Leadbelly." Odetta is a pioneer who has had a major influence on the careers of Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Judy Collins, Tracy Chapman, Carly Simon, Casandra Wilson and Jewel to name a few. Odetta took part in the March on Selma; sang at the 1963 March on Washington; played for President Kennedy and his cabinet on the nationally televised Civil Rights program Dinner with the President; received a Grammy nomination; and was awarded the National Medal of Arts and Humanities in 1999 by President and Mrs. Clinton. Poet Laureate Maya Angelou said, "If only one could be sure that every 50 years a voice and a soul like Odetta's would come along, the centuries would pass so quickly and painlessly we would hardly recognize time."

$25/$20 Members. Available in advance, by phone or in person, at the Outpost Performance Space (268-0044)

Odetta will also perform in Santa Fe, Wednesday, May 24, 7:30 pm for SW Roots Music at the St. Francis Auditorium. Tickets & info: 505-473-5723 or ThirstyEarFestival.com; and in Silver City at the Silver City Blues Festival, Sunday, May 28. mimbresarts.org or 1-888-758-7289 for information

Official Website: http://www.outpostspace.org/node/111