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.
Just Out of Reach
Del Wood Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Just Out of Reach' by these artists:
Brenda Lee Love that runs away from me, Dreams that just won't let…
Bunny Walters Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Carl Belew Love that runs away from me dreams that just won't…
Chic I want a love that's mine all mine, all the…
David Ball Love the runs away fro me Dreams that just won't let…
De-Lights I was left aside I saw no way out But I kept…
Don Gibson Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Eddy Arnold Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Esther Phillips Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
George Jones Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Irene Now if you feel that you can't go on Because…
Jim & Eve Selection Love that runs away from me dreams that just won't…
John Holt Love that runs away from me. Dreams that just won′t let…
Johnny Burnette I just found out, some things I thought of you I-I…
Mary Duff Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Mayday Parade I'm fine The world can wait a little while And I'll remember…
Mickey Gilley Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Narrowhaven My life is like a theatre Where she makes her appearance…
Patsy Cline Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Paul Glass Just out of reach Time has changed you, I can see Try…
Percy Sledge Out of reach of my two empty arms Love that runs…
Perry Como Love that runs away from me, Dreams that just won't…
Peter & Danielle Now if you feel that you can't go on …
Posey Sandy Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Rob Stone & The C-Notes Now if you feel that you can't go on Because…
Sammi Smith (Just out of reach of my two empty arms) Love that…
Sandler & Young Love that runs away from me dreams that just won't…
Sandy Kelly Out of reach of my two empty arms Love that runs…
Sandy Posey Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Slim Whitman Just out of reach Of my two open arms Love that runs…
Solomon Burke A love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't…
Sonny James (Just out of reach of my two open arms) Dreams you…
Soul Clan A love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't…
The Jesus and Mary Chain Take a walk, to the beach Take a walk, back to…
The Zombies Just out of reach Time has changed you I can see Try to…
TheZombies Just out of reach Time has changed you, I can see Try…
Tom Jones Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
V.A. Vipers creeping All around my neck Hissing poison in my ear…
V.F. Stewart Feels like the world is against me. And everything around…
Willie Nelson Love that runs away from me Dreams that just won't let…
Zombies Just out of reach Time has changed you, I can see Try…
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