#126: The Queen of American Folk Music
You may not know her name, but Odetta was one of the most influential singers of the 20th century: called \u201cthe voice of the civil rights movement\u201d by The New York Times and anointed \u201cqueen of American folk music\u201d by Martin Luther King Jr., himself. Our guest this week is music journalist Ian Zack, author of the first in-depth biography of Odetta, whose incredible voice rang out at some of the most pivotal moments in the struggle for African-American equality, including 1960s marches in Washington and Selma.
Go beyond the episode:
- Ian Zack\u2019s Odetta: A Life in Music and Protest
- Zack recommends that new listeners begin with of Odetta\u2019s first two albums: Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues and Odetta at the Gate of Horn (or her lone rock album, Odetta Sings)
- Or to get a feel for the effect she had on audiences, listen to a live album like Odetta at Town Hall\u2014or watch her 1964 concert on YouTube
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