Odetta dies at 77

NEW YORK:

Odetta, folk singer and civil rights campaigner, has died before she could fulfill her wish to sing at Barack Obama's inauguration as president.

Odetta died on Tuesday of heart disease at Lenox Hill Hospital, said her manager of 12 years, Doug Yeager.

She was admitted to the hospital with kidney failure almost four weeks ago, four days after Mr Obama's election victory.

One of the great voices of the civil rights movement,

Odetta brought the diva-like power of an opera singer to US folk music.

Odetta Holmes 12. 31. 1930 – 12. 2. 2008