Odetta

About this episode

This episode explores the life and impact of Odetta, a pivotal figure in American folk music and the Civil Rights Movement.

Odetta was one of the defining voices of American folk music. Though she had been trained in classical music, she was drawn to spirituals, work songs, traditional ballads, and blues. These songs told the stories of true life - of struggle and of those that overcame oppression. Odetta used her theater training and deep resonant voice to bring these messages to life. Her work inspired later artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, served as a soundtrack for the social reforms of the 1960s, and led to her honorary title as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement." There are still a few spaces open on our fall Field Trips to the Loire Valley, and Italy! For information and to register, visit Like Minds Travel. We hope to see you there! For links and codes to advertised products, visit our website's sponsor page at thehistorychicks.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: The History Chicks

Topics covered

• American folk music
• Civil Rights Movement
• music history
• influence of artists
• social reform

Keywords

• Odetta
• folk music
• Civil Rights
• Bob Dylan
• Joan Baez
• music history
• spirituals
• work songs

Sponsors

Like Minds Travel, thehistorychicks.com

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement

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