Bobbie Gentry
Bobbie Gentry (born July 27, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter. She wa… Read Full Bio ↴Bobbie Gentry (born July 27, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter. She was born Roberta Lee Streeter to Portuguese parents in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. She shot to international fame in the summer of 1967 with the quirky and intriguing Ode to Billie Joe, written by Gentry and sung in her warm, captivating style. "Ode" was listed as the most popular single of the year in many U.S. record surveys and was admired by Frank Sinatra and other singers.
Early years
Gentry spent her childhood living with her father in Greenwood, Mississippi, where she attended elementary school and began teaching herself to play the guitar, the bass guitar, and the banjo. In her early teens, she moved to Palm Springs, California, to live with her mother, Ruby Bullington Streeter, graduating from Palm Springs High School in 1962. It was during this time that the teenage Roberta settled on the stage name "Bobbie Gentry," and began performing at local country clubs, encouraged by no less a Palm Springs celebrity than Bob Hope.
After a short career as a Las Vegas showgirl, Gentry moved to Los Angeles, attended UCLA (where she was a philosophy major) and worked clerical jobs while occasionally performing in local nightclubs. She later transferred to the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music to hone her composition and performing skills.
Rise to fame
In 1967, Gentry recorded a demo and submitted it to Capitol Records executive Kelly Gordon, who quickly signed her to a recording contract and produced her first album. A 45 rpm "single" of two of her songs—"Mississippi Delta" and "Ode to Billie Joe"—was the first issue from this first effort, and even though "Mississippi Delta" was chosen for the "A" side, radio stations were quickly enamored with the quirky tale of Billie Joe McAllister and the mystery of his fate, as hauntingly performed and recorded on the "B" side. Bobbie Gentry had a monster hit on her hands, and Capitol Records had its newest superstar. Gentry went on to win three Grammy Awards that year, including "Best Vocal Performance by a Female", and "Best New Artist."
Gentry's follow-up albums, The Delta Sweete and Local Gentry, both produced by Gordon, were issued in 1968. Though critically acclaimed, neither album garnered the kinds of sales figures that were realized with Gentry's debut effort. The year 1968 also saw the release of an album of duets that paired Gentry with fellow Capitol alumnus Glen Campbell. Gentry and Campbell's harmonies resulted in a gold record and three hit singles, including a cover of the Everly Brothers hit "All I Have to Do Is Dream", which rose to No. 6 on the country charts in the winter of 1969.
Gentry toured briefly with Campbell and performed on a number of U.S. television programs and specials in the late 1960s. Her other notable singles include Doug Kershaw's composition "Louisiana Man" as well as a mellow version of a Burt Bacharach-Hal David song, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again". The latter went to No. 1 in Great Britain in 1970, a year after Dionne Warwick had a hit with it in the United States. 1970 also saw the release of another U.S. hit with the self-penned "Fancy," which rose to No. 26 on the Country chart and 31 on the Pop chart. (This enduring tale would later be covered with major success by Reba McEntire in 1991.)
Gentry would go on to record three more albums, while having earlier albums reissued under different titles. These last three albums, Touch 'Em with Love, Fancy, and the ambitious and highly regarded Patchwork, which consisted of all original material, were greeted enthusiastically by critics but, with the exception of the aforementioned title track to Fancy, failed to resonate with the public (though Gentry did generate a significant fan base in the United Kingdom).
Undaunted by declining record sales, Gentry sought other outlets for her creativity. She continued to write and perform, touring Europe and headlining a Las Vegas review in which she produced, choreographed, and wrote and arranged the music. In 1974, Gentry hosted a short-lived summer replacement variety show, The Bobbie Gentry Happiness Hour on CBS. The show, which served as her own version of Campbell's hit series The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, also on CBS, was not picked up for a full season. That same year, Gentry wrote and performed "Another Place, Another Time" for writer-director (and Beverly Hillbillies actor) Max Baer, Jr.'s film, Macon County Line. Baer would go on to direct a feature film take on Ode To Billy Joe, starring Robbie Benson, in which the mystery of Billie Joe's suicide is revealed as a part of the conflict between his love for Bobbie Lee Hartley and his emerging homosexuality.
By the middle 1970s, Gentry's sellability had waned significantly, and Capitol did not renew her contract. After some behind-the-scenes work in television production failed to hold her interests, Gentry decided to retire from show business. Her last public appearance as a performer was on Christmas night 1978, as a guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. She has deliberately remained out of the limelight ever since.
Personal life
She was married twice. The first, to casino magnate William F. Harrah in 1969, when she was 27 and he was 58, lasted only three months, a victim of her fame. The second, to novelty singer-songwriter Jim Stafford, ended in 1979, after only eleven months of marriage and the birth of a son, Tyler. The details of Gentry's personal life after her retirement are little known, but it is generally believed that she has settled into a happy life, and enjoys being a private citizen, unhindered by the scrutiny that fame brings. As of January 2003, she was living in Los Angeles County, California.
Early years
Gentry spent her childhood living with her father in Greenwood, Mississippi, where she attended elementary school and began teaching herself to play the guitar, the bass guitar, and the banjo. In her early teens, she moved to Palm Springs, California, to live with her mother, Ruby Bullington Streeter, graduating from Palm Springs High School in 1962. It was during this time that the teenage Roberta settled on the stage name "Bobbie Gentry," and began performing at local country clubs, encouraged by no less a Palm Springs celebrity than Bob Hope.
After a short career as a Las Vegas showgirl, Gentry moved to Los Angeles, attended UCLA (where she was a philosophy major) and worked clerical jobs while occasionally performing in local nightclubs. She later transferred to the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music to hone her composition and performing skills.
Rise to fame
In 1967, Gentry recorded a demo and submitted it to Capitol Records executive Kelly Gordon, who quickly signed her to a recording contract and produced her first album. A 45 rpm "single" of two of her songs—"Mississippi Delta" and "Ode to Billie Joe"—was the first issue from this first effort, and even though "Mississippi Delta" was chosen for the "A" side, radio stations were quickly enamored with the quirky tale of Billie Joe McAllister and the mystery of his fate, as hauntingly performed and recorded on the "B" side. Bobbie Gentry had a monster hit on her hands, and Capitol Records had its newest superstar. Gentry went on to win three Grammy Awards that year, including "Best Vocal Performance by a Female", and "Best New Artist."
Gentry's follow-up albums, The Delta Sweete and Local Gentry, both produced by Gordon, were issued in 1968. Though critically acclaimed, neither album garnered the kinds of sales figures that were realized with Gentry's debut effort. The year 1968 also saw the release of an album of duets that paired Gentry with fellow Capitol alumnus Glen Campbell. Gentry and Campbell's harmonies resulted in a gold record and three hit singles, including a cover of the Everly Brothers hit "All I Have to Do Is Dream", which rose to No. 6 on the country charts in the winter of 1969.
Gentry toured briefly with Campbell and performed on a number of U.S. television programs and specials in the late 1960s. Her other notable singles include Doug Kershaw's composition "Louisiana Man" as well as a mellow version of a Burt Bacharach-Hal David song, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again". The latter went to No. 1 in Great Britain in 1970, a year after Dionne Warwick had a hit with it in the United States. 1970 also saw the release of another U.S. hit with the self-penned "Fancy," which rose to No. 26 on the Country chart and 31 on the Pop chart. (This enduring tale would later be covered with major success by Reba McEntire in 1991.)
Gentry would go on to record three more albums, while having earlier albums reissued under different titles. These last three albums, Touch 'Em with Love, Fancy, and the ambitious and highly regarded Patchwork, which consisted of all original material, were greeted enthusiastically by critics but, with the exception of the aforementioned title track to Fancy, failed to resonate with the public (though Gentry did generate a significant fan base in the United Kingdom).
Undaunted by declining record sales, Gentry sought other outlets for her creativity. She continued to write and perform, touring Europe and headlining a Las Vegas review in which she produced, choreographed, and wrote and arranged the music. In 1974, Gentry hosted a short-lived summer replacement variety show, The Bobbie Gentry Happiness Hour on CBS. The show, which served as her own version of Campbell's hit series The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, also on CBS, was not picked up for a full season. That same year, Gentry wrote and performed "Another Place, Another Time" for writer-director (and Beverly Hillbillies actor) Max Baer, Jr.'s film, Macon County Line. Baer would go on to direct a feature film take on Ode To Billy Joe, starring Robbie Benson, in which the mystery of Billie Joe's suicide is revealed as a part of the conflict between his love for Bobbie Lee Hartley and his emerging homosexuality.
By the middle 1970s, Gentry's sellability had waned significantly, and Capitol did not renew her contract. After some behind-the-scenes work in television production failed to hold her interests, Gentry decided to retire from show business. Her last public appearance as a performer was on Christmas night 1978, as a guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. She has deliberately remained out of the limelight ever since.
Personal life
She was married twice. The first, to casino magnate William F. Harrah in 1969, when she was 27 and he was 58, lasted only three months, a victim of her fame. The second, to novelty singer-songwriter Jim Stafford, ended in 1979, after only eleven months of marriage and the birth of a son, Tyler. The details of Gentry's personal life after her retirement are little known, but it is generally believed that she has settled into a happy life, and enjoys being a private citizen, unhindered by the scrutiny that fame brings. As of January 2003, she was living in Los Angeles County, California.
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Bobbie Gentry Lyrics
Ace Insurance Man Two men sittin' in straight back chairs Feet propped up on…
All I Have to Do Is Dream Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dr…
Another Place Another Time Another place, another time Another song, another rhyme Is i…
Apartment Rain on my Sunday shoes Pick up the daily news Looks like…
Away in a Manger Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, The little…
Belinda When I first met Belinda It was down in Corpus Christi Back…
Benjamin Benjamin rode out of Montana On a Palomino pony He told me…
Beverly Beverly packs her lunch pail silently In the light of the…
Big Boss Man Big boss man, can't you hear me when I call? Big…
Billy The Kid Billy the kid I understand you It really ain't your fault…
Bugs Got a pollywog in your water Tadpole in the moonshine vat …
But I Can't Get Back Marigolds and tangerines And lots of rusty window screens Fu…
Casket Vignette Here are some samples of the fabric, Miss Morgan I know…
Chickasaw Country Child Just outside of delta country Where the bitter weeds growin'…
Come Away Melinda Mommy, mommy, come and look See what I have found A little…
Courtyard Said he'd build me a courtyard He promised he would And spen…
Eleanor Rigby Ah, look at all the lonely people Ah, look at all…
En Todas Partes La vida es mas feliz Si nuestro amor esta aqui Si hay…
Fancy I remember it all very well lookin' back It was the…
Fool on the Hill Day after day, alone on a hill, The man with the…
Gentle On My Mind It's knowin' that your door is always open And your path…
Glory Hallelujah How They'll Sing Up at five and done with chores, the family piles…
Glory Hallelujah, How They'll Sing Up at five and done with the chores, the family…
Greyhound Goin' Somewhere There ain't much time to say goodbye But let me try…
Greyhound Going' Somewhere There ain't much time to say goodbye But let me try…
He Made A Woman Out Of Me I was born on a levy A little bit south of…
Heart to heart talk Anyone who ever loved Could look at me and know…
Here There And Everywhere To lead a better life I need my love to be…
Hurry Hurry Tuesday child It's time to be a goin' Your good news…
Hushabye Mountain A gentle breeze from Hushabye Mountain Softly blows over Lu…
I You You Came into my life It was sunshine everywhere You wer…
I Wouldn't Be Surprised If the ground were to freeze Underneath my feet In the sum…
I'll Never Fall In Love Again What do you get when you fall in love? A guy…
In The Ghetto As the snow flies On a cold and gray Chicago mornin' A…
Jessye' Lisabeth Pray tell, Jessye' Lisabeth Tell me why you're weeping Pray …
Less Of Me Let me be a little kinder Let me be a little…
Let It Be Me I bless the day I found you I want to stay…
Little Green Apples And I wake up in the mornin' With my hair…
Lookin' In Can't seem to settle down Maybe I'll just hang around But ev…
Louisiana Man At first Mom and Poppa called the little girl a…
Marigolds And Tangerines Marigolds and tangerines And lots of rusty window screens Fu…
Miss Clara/Azusa Sue Last Friday I received your letter It said your book was…
Missisippi Delta M I double S I double S I double P…
Mornin' Glory Good mornin' mornin' glory Good mornin' what's your story Go…
Morning Glory Good mornin' mornin' glory Good mornin' what's your story …
Natural To Be Gone You don't know me where I live My tracks may soon…
Niki Hoeky Down in Louisiana Down in Cajun land Folks got something…
Ode to Bille Joe It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Okolona River Bottom Band La la la la la Ooh hey hey hey La la la…
Papa Papa won't you let me go to town with you Papa…
Papa's Medicine Show It doesn't seem so long ago when papa had his…
Parchman Farm My man's over there on Parchman Farm Sittin' there on Parch…
Peaceful Dum diddle dee dum Diddle dee dum, diddle dee dum Diddle dee…
Penduli Pendulum Penduli pendulum Swing around, beat the drum In July, I'll d…
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head Raindrops keep fallin' on my head And just like the guy…
Rainmaker First day in August Last rain was in May When the rainmaker…
Refractions I had a most distressing dream last night I dreamed I…
Reunion Mama, can I huh, mama, can I huh, huh Can I…
Scarlet Ribbons You know I peeked in to say goodnight, When I heard…
Seasons Come And Seasons Go Dogwood blossoms float against The ice encrusted creek bank …
Seasons Come Seasons Go Dogwood blossoms float against The ice encrusted creek bank…
Seasons Come, Seasons Go Dogwood blossoms float against The ice encrusted creek bank …
Sermon Let me set the mood, set the situation Imagine that your…
Sittin' Pretty I'm just sitting pretty watching the flowers grow Beneath m…
Skip Along Sam Come run, jump, skip along, Sam A very happy good mornin'…
Slow Cookin' Slow cookin' Let me add a little spice to your life Serve…
Somebody Like Me Why? How could you fall this time? Fall for that same old…
Something in the Way He Moves There's something in the way he moves Looks my way…
Son of a Preacher Man Billy-Ray was a Preacher's son, And when his daddy would vis…
Steal Away Oo, I gotta see you somehow Not tomorrow, but right now I…
Stormy You were the sunshine, baby Whenever you smiled But I call y…
Sunday Best When I'm walking hand in hand with you I've got my…
Sweet Peony I want you to meet me at my houseboat Be sure…
The Fool On the Hill Day after day, alone on a hill, The man with the…
The Girl From Cincinnati Took the Continental Trailways 'Cause I didn't have the fare…
The Way I Do Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dr…
The Windows Of The World The windows of the world are covered with rain Where is…
Tobacco Road I was born in a trunk Mama died and my daddy…
Touch 'Em With Love Hey, my good man Won'tcha come here and see about…
Walk Right Back I want you to tell me why you walked out…
Wedding Bell Blues Bill I love you so I always will I look at you…
Where's the Playground Johnny The end has come and found us here With our…
You And Me Together Papa won't you let me go to town with you Papa…
You've Made Me So Very Happy I lost at love before Got mad and closed the door But…
Your Number One Fan Ever since I saw your picture In the weekly music trade You…
Youve Made Me So Very Happy I lost at love before, Got mad and closed the door. But…