Andrew Big Voice Odom Sang For Blues Stars But Never Became One

Since 2004 Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) has used the Secret History of Chicago Music to shine a light on worthy artists with Chicago ties who’ve been forgotten, underrated, or never noticed in the first place.

During his decade with Hooker, Odom cut a single in 1966, billed to Andre Odom, for small Chicago label Nation Records. In 1969, as Andrew “Voice” Odom, he recorded his debut LP, Farther on Down the Road, which featured Hooker and pianist Johnny “Big Moose” Walker. It was belatedly released by BluesWay in 1973, three years after Hooker’s death. By then Odom had moved on to a long-standing gig with another ax-toting legend, Jimmy Dawkins.

In 1992 Odom and the band released the critically acclaimed album Goin’ to California, billed to Andew “B.B.” Odom & the Gold Tops and featuring Chicago guitarist Steve Freund. (Confusingly, Odom’s catalog also includes a live album called Going to California, recorded in 1976 at west-side club Ma Bea’s.) Tragically, Odom didn’t live to see it—he died of a heart attack in the wee hours of December 23, 1991, in the middle of a night of club-hopping. He was driving with his wife Laura from Buddy Guy’s Legends back to the Checkerboard Lounge, and when he lost control of the car and hit a tree near 40th and Michigan, only she survived.