- Odessa M. Perkins rose from abject poverty in the rural south to being one of the finest and most well-respected gospel contraltos in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1960s and 1970s. This article by Opal Louis Nations tells her story.
- The involvement of Odessa Perkins with the Ward Singers (early 1960’s) needs confirmation. As can be seen in the discography below, the information given in my sources is conflicting.
- All dates are recording dates.
- This page lists all known recordings by Odessa Perkins and the groups she was involved in.
Lathanettes
West Berkeley, CA (?), 1958
| RG-105-A | I'm Packing Up | Reid’s Religious Gems 105 |
| RG-105-B | Troubled Soul | Reid’s Religious Gems 105 |
Lathanettes
San Francisco, CA (?), 1959-60
| A-134:34275 | Come On | Anika 1003 |
| A-134:34276 | Can't Feel At Home | Anika 1003 |
Ward Singers
Unknown year and location, probably early 1960’s
| Move On Up A Little Higher | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Waiting For Me | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Swing Low Sweet Chariot | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Joshua | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Babylon | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Go Down Moses | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Resurrection Morning | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Walk With Me | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Bye And Bye | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Blessed Assurance | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Whiter Than Snow | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 | |
| Get Away Jordan | FM LP 306, Roulette LP 25319 |
- FM LP 306, titled “Move On Up A Little Higher” (click here to see an image of the front cover), could have been issued as by the Getrude Ward Singers as well, but this needs to be confirmed. It was re-issued on Roulette LP 25319 (1966) as by the Clara Ward Singers (self-titled).
- There’s no information on the line-up given on the LP and my sources are conflicting as one lists Odessa Perkins as being part of the group (the Gospel Discography by Laughton/Hayes) and the other does not (unmentioned in Louis Opal Nations’ article). I’m following the information given by the Gospel Discography.
- The same confusion exists for Buena Vista LP 3318 (as by the Famous Ward Singers), although in this case the Gospel Discography doesn’t list Odessa Perkins as being part of the group and Opal Louis Nations’ article does. However, from listening to the LP, it appears that Odessa Perkins is not present on this LP (thanks to Per Notini).
- To add to the confusion: the French issue of the Buena Vista LP (#33VS-564) does list Odessa Perkins…
Odessa Perkins (A), Joe and Odessa (B)
San Francisco, CA (?), 1963-66
| DV-100-A | Tell God | Chap-Perk 100 |
| DV-100-B | Nothing Between | Chap-Perk 100 |
- These sides were recorded with Joe Garrett on piano. The b-side is a duet by ‘Joe and Odessa’.
Lathanettes
Oakland, CA (?), 1968
| You're Going To Make It | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| Packing Up | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| Reach Out | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| Never Pass This Way | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| You Can't Beat God Giving | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| Talk With Jesus | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| Redeem | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| I Believe | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| Letting The Master | Boola-Boola LP 715 | |
| Blessed Are They | Boola-Boola LP 715 |
- Boola-Boola LP 715 is titled “Letting The Master Have His Way”, click here for scans.
Odessa Perkins’ Sunshine Jubilee
San Francisco, CA (?), 1971
| Put A Little Love In Your Heart | Golden Soul LP 2847 | |
| The Man Beyond The Clouds | Golden Soul LP 2847 | |
| Trees | Golden Soul LP 2847 | |
| There Must Be A God | Golden Soul LP 2847 | |
| I've Made It Over | Golden Soul LP 2847 | |
| The Green Green Grass | Golden Soul LP 2847 | |
| How Great Thou Art | Golden Soul LP 2847 | |
| Holy Ghost’s Got Me | Golden Soul LP 2847 | |
| Saints | Golden Soul LP 2847 |
- Golden Soul LP 2847 is titled “Beyond The Clouds”, click here for scans.