Odetta Vinyl Records

Odetta was an American singer and actress who specialized in folk and blues music. She was born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, Alabama in 1930. She began her career as a folk singer in the 1950s and gained prominence in the 1960s for her powerful, soulful performances. She was a major influence on the folk revival of the 1960s, inspiring the likes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

Odetta's best-known albums include Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues (1956), At The Gate of Horn (1957), and My Eyes Have Seen (1959). Standout songs from her catalogue include "Take This Hammer," "John Henry," "Water Boy," and "Mule Skinner Blues."

An interesting fact about Odetta is that she was an advocate for civil rights and was even dubbed "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1960.