ODETTA (1961-69) Photo archive

Group of four vintage original black-and-white glossy silver gelatin photos. Two are 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm), one is 8 x 10″ double weight and one is 7 x 9″ (17 x 22 cm). All contain stamps, attached blurbs or notations including dates and information. Fine.

Odetta Holmes (1930-2008), known mononymously as Odetta, was an American singer often referred to as “the voice of the civil rights movement”. Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz and spirituals. After hanging out with some young folk singers in San Francisco, Odetta turned to folk music in 1950. She learned to play the guitar and started performing traditional folk songs. She moved to New York City, embarking on a solo career and releasing her debut album Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues in 1956. Hailed as “the mother goddess of folk blues” by the New York Times, Odetta left an indelible mark on the world of folk music for five decades. (Wikipedia)

One photo date stamped Nov. 29, 1961, is of Odetta at a city council meeting on coffee houses. Another dated July 8, 1963, and stamped “Photo by Marvin Lichtner for RCA Victor” shows her rehearsing with a pianist. A singing portrait dated April 19, 1969, promotes an appearance at Hunter College. The last photo is date stamped Aug. 27, 1969, and shows her with Johnny Cash for ABC Television’s The Johnny Cash Show.