Polly Adelaide Hendricks Hazelwood (February 22, 1920 – October 3, 1989), k… Read Full Bio ↴Polly Adelaide Hendricks Hazelwood (February 22, 1920 – October 3, 1989), known professionally as Del Wood, was an American pianist.
Hendricks was born in Nashville, Tennessee. A lifetime resident of Nashville, she was surrounded by the influences of early country music and the remaining vestiges of ragtime, particularly through the guitar pickers. She took up piano at age five, and played ragtime, gospel, and country music. Despite her parent's best efforts to encourage a direction towards classical music, the environment in Nashville, plus the early local programming on radio, convinced her that she wanted to play piano in the honky-tonk style. Her dream goal was the Grand Ole Opry, something she would realize in her early 30s.
Shortening her married name (Adelaide Hazelwood) to something easier to remember (and intentionally non-gender specific), Wood began playing in bands and honky-tonk joints in her 20s. After a decade of building repertoire and reputation, she spent some time as a staff pianist at WLBJ in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was there that she was heard playing "Down Yonder" among other pieces, which led to a gig with a recording group called Hugh `Baby' Jarrett and his Dixieliners. This led to the first of many recording sessions for the Tennessee Records label starting in 1951. "Down Yonder" soon became a national hit in both the country and pop categories in Billboard record charts, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. She is probably the first female country solo instrumentalist to sell a million copies of a record.
This success was turned into appearances on the Grand Ole Opry starting in 1952, which led to an eventual full-time gig there in 1953, fulfilling her long-time dream. Two years later her fame culminated with a contract from RCA Victor Records, where she would make some of the first country/honky-tonk stereo recordings in the late 1950s. While nothing else that she put out had the same success as "Down Yonder", her offerings over the next decade were frequent and consistent. Wood gained the title, Queen of the Ragtime Pianists, sometimes shared with junior fellow plunker Jo Ann Castle. She was also divorced from her stage-namesake, Carson Hazelwood, during this period, but not before adopting a son they named Wesley.
During the Vietnam War, Wood was part of one of the Grand Ole Opry package tours that entertained troops overseas in 1968. Her recordings after the late 1960s were infrequent at best, but her appearances on the Opry continued until just before her death from a stroke on October 3, 1989 at the age of 69.
She was interred in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.
Hendricks was born in Nashville, Tennessee. A lifetime resident of Nashville, she was surrounded by the influences of early country music and the remaining vestiges of ragtime, particularly through the guitar pickers. She took up piano at age five, and played ragtime, gospel, and country music. Despite her parent's best efforts to encourage a direction towards classical music, the environment in Nashville, plus the early local programming on radio, convinced her that she wanted to play piano in the honky-tonk style. Her dream goal was the Grand Ole Opry, something she would realize in her early 30s.
Shortening her married name (Adelaide Hazelwood) to something easier to remember (and intentionally non-gender specific), Wood began playing in bands and honky-tonk joints in her 20s. After a decade of building repertoire and reputation, she spent some time as a staff pianist at WLBJ in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It was there that she was heard playing "Down Yonder" among other pieces, which led to a gig with a recording group called Hugh `Baby' Jarrett and his Dixieliners. This led to the first of many recording sessions for the Tennessee Records label starting in 1951. "Down Yonder" soon became a national hit in both the country and pop categories in Billboard record charts, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. She is probably the first female country solo instrumentalist to sell a million copies of a record.
This success was turned into appearances on the Grand Ole Opry starting in 1952, which led to an eventual full-time gig there in 1953, fulfilling her long-time dream. Two years later her fame culminated with a contract from RCA Victor Records, where she would make some of the first country/honky-tonk stereo recordings in the late 1950s. While nothing else that she put out had the same success as "Down Yonder", her offerings over the next decade were frequent and consistent. Wood gained the title, Queen of the Ragtime Pianists, sometimes shared with junior fellow plunker Jo Ann Castle. She was also divorced from her stage-namesake, Carson Hazelwood, during this period, but not before adopting a son they named Wesley.
During the Vietnam War, Wood was part of one of the Grand Ole Opry package tours that entertained troops overseas in 1968. Her recordings after the late 1960s were infrequent at best, but her appearances on the Opry continued until just before her death from a stroke on October 3, 1989 at the age of 69.
She was interred in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.
I'm Movin' On
Del Wood Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'I'm Movin' On' by these artists:
Brett Marshall i've dealt with my ghosts and i've faced all my…
Cash Rosanne That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Connie Francis That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Don Gibson That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Elvis Presley That big eight-wheeler runnin' down the track Mean your true…
Emmylou Harris Ladies and gentlemen Boy and girls Cowboys and indians Pleas…
Ernest Tubb That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
George Thorogood & The Destroyers That big eight wheeler a rollin' down the track Means your…
Hank Snow That big eight-wheeler, rollin' down the track Means your tr…
Hank Thompson I'M MOVIN' ON (Hank Snow) « © '50 Hill & Range Songs…
Hoagy Carmichael That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Jillian Jensen From the moment I saw you yeah From the moment You came into…
Jimmie Dale Gilmore That big eighteen-wheeler, rollin' down the track Means you…
Jimmy & Johnny That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
John Hammond That big eight wheeler rolling down the track Means your tru…
John Kay I warned ya, baby From time to time But you just wouldn't…
John Kay & Steppenwolf That big eight wheeler rolling down the track Means your tru…
Johnny Cash That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Johnny Cash (with Waylon Jennings) That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tr…
Johnny Cash [feat. Waylon Jennings] That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Johnny Cash;Waylon Jennings That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tr…
Leon Russell That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Les Paul That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Les Paul and Mary Ford That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tr…
Mac Graham I need to tell you now you shouldn't call me…
Matt Lucas Wind it up baby Awww, shake it pretty daddy I'm gonna ride…
Randy Travis That big eight-wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Rascal Flatts I've dealt with my ghosts and faced all my demons Finally…
Ray Charles That big eight-wheeler runnin' down the track Means your tru…
Ray Charles and His Orchestra That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
Roy Acuff And His Smoky Mountain Boys That big eight wheeler rolling down the track Means your tru…
Sam & Dave When we used to say goodnight I'd always kiss and hold…
Steppenwolf I warned you, baby from time to time But you just…
Taste See that big eight-wheeler coming down the track, Means yo…
The Box Tops I warned you, baby, from time to time You don't listen…
The Elvis That big eight-wheeler runnin' down the track Mean your true…
The Everly Brothers That big eight wheeler rollin' down the track Means your tru…
The Rainbow Ranch Boys That big eight-wheeler, rollin' down the track Means your tr…
The Serial Chillers Time keeps movin' along The sun brings a brand new dawn And…
Timi Yuro That big eight wheeler rolling down the track Means your tru…
Willie Nelson That big eight-wheeler, rollin' down the track Means your tr…
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