MUSIC NEWS - UPDATE 12/3/08- Sadly, Odetta died on Tuesday at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. She was 77. The cause was heart disease, said her manager, Doug Yeager. He added that she had been hoping to sing at Barack Obama's inauguration.
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Odetta Gordon, 77, known as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement," remains in a New York City hospital, suffering from kidney failure. She entered the hospital last Saturday (11/8) for a check-up and IV nourishment. Unfortunately, on Sunday evening (11/9), her kidney's failed, according to a statement by her manage, Doug Yeager (full statement below). Doctors are working to stabilize her system and prevent the weakening of her other organs. She is on dialysis to rid her body of the toxic poisons that have built up due to her failing kidneys. Her doctors said the treatment seems to be slowly working. Gordon is expected to remain in the ICU Unit for at least another week, according to the statement.
She is coherent and talking, and determined to perform at Barack Obama's Inauguration in January, according to family members. A major figure in the folk movement, she influenced dozens of folk/rock artists, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Janis Joplin. Her family encourages fans to send cards/notes to Ms. Odetta Gordon; Room #719, 7th Floor ICU Unit; Lenox Hill Hospital; 100 East 77th Street; New York, NY, 10021 -- PLEASE DO !
UPDATE 11/16/08- Great news; Odetta's condition has improved significantly, and she's expected to be released from the hospital next week. Odetta's already making plans to join Garrison Keillor for his annual Prairie Home Companion Christmas Show at NYC's Town Hall in December. This will be in addition to planning to perform at Barack Obama's Inauguration in January !!
Dear Friends of Odetta,
On behalf of Odetta's adopted daughter Michelle Esrick and her niece Jan Ford (in California), I would like to share with you - Odetta's large extended family of brothers and sisters - the current health crisis in her life. On Saturday, she went into Lenox Hill Hospital for a check-up and IV nourishment. However, on Sunday evening she went into kidney failure, and we were told that the next 24 hours would determine if she would survive.
Miraculously, she made it through that emergency, but is still listed in critical condition. I was on the road when she went in the hospital and rushed back on Sunday. Jan and I are thankful that Michelle was here and has been by Odetta's side every moment of this ordeal.
Odetta believes she is going to sing at Obama's Inauguration, and I believe that is the reason she is still alive. She has a big poster of Barack Obama taped on the wall across from her bed. Her old heart has already outperformed and lasted far beyond the expectations of the heart specialists who treated her in January-March 2007 when she had her last health crisis while touring out West. Now compounded with the kidney failure, the doctors at the hospital are trying to do everything possible to stabilize her system and prevent the weakening of her other organs. They have her on dialysis now to rid the body of the toxic poisons that have built up, and it seems to be slowly working. She is sleeping a lot, but after a dialysis treatment and some food, she is coherent and talking. She is not in pain. We are told that she will be in the ICU Unit for at least another week, and that we'll just have to wait and see after that.
All of you are well aware of Odetta's indomitable spirit. Accordingly, I wouldn't bet against her singing for Barack in January!
If you would like to send a card, I know that she would love to hear from you (address of the hospital is below).
Ms. Odetta Gordon
Room # 719, 7th Floor ICU Unit
LENOX HILL HOSPITAL
100 East 77th Street
New York, NY 10021
Warmest regards,
Doug Yeager
Oh Odetta, sing for me!
Take me across that deep blue sea;
Back to the Garden whence we came—
Back to the spring of your sweet refrain.
“All the way to freedom land…
All the way to freedom land.”
Across the skies and back through time;
Back to the cradle of humankind. *
Be better soon, Odetta!
We love you,
Stephen and family
*from the tribute song entitled Ode To Odetta; ©Stephen Alcorn 2008
Posted by: Stephen Alcorn | Nov 20, 2008 at 08:11 PM