And the legendary blues, folk and gospel singer Odetta has died at the age of seventy-seven. The New York Times described her as the voice of the civil rights movement. In 1963, Odetta performed the song “O Freedom” at the March on Washington. Odetta inspired a generation of musicians including Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Dylan once said, “The first thing that turned me on to folk singing was Odetta.” When Rosa Parks was asked which songs meant the most to her, she replied, “All of the songs Odetta sings.”

Odetta, performing on Democracy Now! in 2002 on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.