Odia Coates
Odia Coates, born November 13, 1941 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was an
African-American singer. She sang in the Church of God in Christ choir and later
joined the Southern California State Youth Choir. In 1967, she became a member
of the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and by 1968 she was performing in local clubs. Her
breakthrough came when Paul Anka, whom she met through the Hawkins network,
invited her to record for United Artists. Their duet “Having My Baby” (1974)
topped the Billboard Hot 100 and later appeared on the Jaws soundtrack. In 1975
she issued her self‑titled album, with the...
