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Odia was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. As a young child her family moved to Watts, California where her father was a pastor in the Beautiful Gates Church Of God In Christ there. Odia began her
singing in the church choir and eventually became a member of the Southern California State Youth Choir.
She turned secular in 1968, singing at a club in Sunnydale, California, while working during the day as a secretary at an aircraft company.
Her first professional job was in Batman's Cave at the "Wayne
Manor Club" working with a yet to be famous Sly and The Family
Stone. She then joined a local band, Brotherly Love, before teaming up
with Merry Clayton to form Sisters Love. She supplemented her income
by doing session work during the late 1960's and early 1970's.
One day she called old family friend Edwin Hawkins
for some professional advice. "I had called Edwin to ask his advice
about a local deal offered to me," Odia
explained in a BillBoard interview, "and he
said to forget about it, he'd talk to Paul (Anka)
about me." Anka had produced Hawkins "Oh
Happy Day" album in 1969. "Later I got a call and he had set
up an audition for me in Las Vegas, where Paul lives. I did "Do You Wanna
Dance" and Stevie Wonder's "If You Really
Love Me." Paul was taken away by the songs but I didn't know that
because he was very calm at the tiem. So I went on
and continued my vacation and a week later gave Paul a call. And he said
"Where have you been, I've been trying to reach you."
This began a lifelong friendship with Anka that lasted till her death. Odia
signed with producer Rick Hall (a cousin of mine), who leased her
recordings to Anka's label at the time, United
Artists. She was in the studio with Anka when he
was recording "(You're) Having
My Baby" as a solo effort. U.A. executive Bob Skaff
was also there and he suggested that Odia duet with
Paul on the song. The duet hit #-1 the week of August 24, 1974 and held that spot for three weeks. The pair recorded several more
tracks together resulting in the hits
"One Man Woman/One Woman Man" (#-7 1974), "I Don't Like To Sleep Alone"
(#-8 1975) and "(I Believe)
There's Nothing Stronger Than Our Love" (#-15 1975).
She then charted with a solo single, a cover of E.L.O.'s "Showdown"
(#71 1976) also for United Artists. Both had left the label by 1977. Anka had moved to RCA and Odia
had moved to Epic. Paul returned the favor for Coates by writing and
producing the 1977 12" classic "Make
It Up To Me In Love." He also returned the favor by duetting with her on the track. The flip was an Odia solo track "You." The 12"
featured a stunning Tom Moulton mix but failed to garner enough success to
merit another release.
Odia went back to session work
and her beloved church, quickly disappearing from the pop spotlight. Her
beautiful voice was stilled in 1991 when she succumbed to breast cancer. An
underrated singer that deserves recognition ....she has her spot here in The
DiscoMuseum.
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