Folksinger Odetta, human rights activist, sometimes referred to as the ‘voice of the civil rights movement’ and the ‘queen of American folk music’ passed away yesterday, Dec. 2, 2008. See an interview she did with Tavis Smiley from earlier this year. Odetta also appeared in the first season of Sesame Street, and frequently in various civil rights and roots music documentaries on Public Television.

Odetta sings the stunning ‘Water Boy’ here:

Odetta performs on Tavis Smiley show:

Odetta performs on Say Brother, a WGBH program from 1979:
Watch program.