Andrew Odom

Life and career Odom, who was African-American, was born in Denham Springs, Louisiana, United States, the son of Lula Odom on December 15, 1936. He learned to sing at his family's church. In 1955, he relocated to East St. Louis, Illinois, and began working with Albert King and Johnny Williams. Through O'Neal he met Earl Hooker, with whom he recorded and performed for a number of years.

Hooker, after being released from the hospital in 1968, assembled a new band and began performing in Chicago clubs and touring, against his doctor's advice. The band, with Odom as the vocalist and the pianist Pinetop Perkins, the harmonica player Carey Bell, the bassist Geno Skaggs and the steel guitar player Freddie Roulette, was "widely acclaimed" and "considered one of the best Earl had ever carried with him". On the recommendation of Buddy Guy, Arhoolie Records recorded 2 Bugs and a Roach by Hooker and his new band. Hooker's album Don't Have to Worry (1969) included instrumental selections and songs with vocals by Odom, Johnny "Big Moose" Walker, and Hooker. It has been said that the session had a "coherence and consistency" that helped make the album part of Hooker's "finest musical legacy".

Odom's debut album, Farther On Down the Road (recorded in 1969 and released in 1973), included his version of "Farther Up the Road", with accompaniment throughout by Hooker on guitar and Johnny "Big Moose" Walker on keyboards.

After Hooker's death, in April 1970, Odom worked for the next decade as a singer with Jimmy Dawkins. In 1971, Delmark Records released Dawkins's second album, All for Business, with Odom on vocals and Otis Rush on guitar. In 1974, Wasp Records issued the single "I Got This Bad Feeling", credited to B.B. Odom and the Earbenders.

In 1982, Odom recorded his second solo album, Feel So Good, with accompaniment by Magic Slim and the Teardrops, which was issued by the small French record label Black & Blue Records. It was reissued by Evidence Music in 1993.

Some of his work appeared on the compilation album The Chicago Blues Box: The MCM Records Story.

Discography Albums Year Title Record label 1969 Farther On Down the Road BluesWay Records 1977 Going to California MCM Records 1982 Feel So Good Evidence Music 1991 Goin' to California Flying Fish Records

As sideman Year Title Artist/Band Record label Ref. 19692 Bugs and a Roach Earl Hooker Arhoolie Records 1969Don't Have to Worry Earl Hooker BluesWay Records 1991 Estúdio Eldorado (Brazil)