Cleo Odzer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cleo Odzer
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Cleo Odzer in 1969
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| Born | 16 April 1950 New York, US |
| Died | 26 March 2001 (aged 50) Goa, India |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | US American |
Cleo Odzer (born Sheila Lynne Odzer, April 6, 1950 – March 26, 2001) was an American writer. She wrote books about the hippie culture in Goa, India. Her writings shared her experiences from her time living in this unique community.
Contents
Cleo's Early Life and Music Interests
Cleo Odzer grew up in Manhattan, New York City. Her father, who led a textile company, passed away when she was 16. She went to Franklin School and later Quintano's School for Young Professionals. She finished school in 1968.
Around that time, Cleo started writing about the music scene. She wrote for a small newspaper in Greenwich Village. She met Keith Emerson, a musician from the band the Nice. Later, he was in Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
A Story About an "Engagement"
In 1968, Cleo received a Christmas gift from Keith Emerson. She told the press they were engaged. However, Keith Emerson later wrote in his book that there was no real engagement. He learned about it from a magazine article. Cleo later said this article caused the "engagement" to end.
In 1969, Cleo recorded an album. It was produced by Alan Lorber. The album mostly featured Cleo and her friends. They talked about their adventures meeting rock musicians.
Adventures in India: The Hippie Years
In the early 1970s, Cleo Odzer traveled a lot. She visited places in Europe and the Middle East. She also worked as a model during this time.
She spent the late 1970s in Anjuna, Goa, in India. This area was known for its hippie culture. Her experiences there, including some challenging times, became the focus of her second book. This book was called Goa Freaks: My Hippie Years in India. It was published in 1995. For a while, she also followed the teachings of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in India.
Back to the U.S. and New Studies
After returning to the United States in the late 1970s, Cleo went to college. She then went to graduate school. In 1990, she earned a Ph.D. in anthropology. Anthropology is the study of human societies and cultures. She got her degree from The New School in New York City. Before that, starting in 1987, she spent three years doing research in Thailand.
From 1995 to 1998, Cleo created a TV show. It was called Cleo's Adventures. She made many episodes for a public-access television channel in Manhattan.
Final Years in Goa
In 1999, Cleo felt unhappy with her life in New York. She decided to move back to Goa. However, some of the older hippies there were not happy to see her. They felt her book had brought too much attention to their quiet community.
Cleo Odzer passed away in Goa in 2001. A friend of hers, "Cookie," said Cleo's doctor believed she died from health problems. These included very high cholesterol and blood circulation issues. Her body was cremated after a small service.
A Film About the Goa Scene
The 2002 documentary film Last Hippie Standing explored the Goa scene. It showed some of Cleo Odzer's old home videos from the 1970s. The film was made to honor her memory.
