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.
Maria Elena
Del Wood Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Maria Elena' by these artists:
Altemar Dutra Quiero cantarte mujer Mi más bonita canción Porque eres tú m…
Andre Kostelanetz & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Baciary Czy widzisz go takim jakim go znałaś Od tyle już lat Cudowne…
Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Cesária Évora Tuyo es mi corazôn, Oh sol de mi querer; Mujer…
Chick Henderson with Joe Loss & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Concrete Blonde y Los Illegals She moves like she don't care Smooth as silk, cool as…
Dick Haymes with Harry James & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Gene Autry Maria Elena, you're the answer to my prayer Maria Elena, ca…
Gene Pitney There's a cottage, In the village, In the country, I have…
Guy Lombardo and his Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Hank Snow Maria Elena you're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena can't…
Harry James & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Helmut Lotti Tuyo es mi corazon Oh, sol de mi querer Mujer de mi…
Jan Garber & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Javier Solís Tuyo es mi corazón oh sol de mi querer, mujer de…
Jerry Vale Maria Elena you're the answer to a prayer, Maria Elena can't…
Jim Reeves Maria Elena you're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena…
Jimmy Dorsey María Elena you're the answer to a prayer María Elena can't…
Jimmy Dorsey His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra María Elena you're the answer to a prayer María Elena can't…
Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra Feat. Bob Eberly Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Joan Soriano Maria Elena Ando buscando a Maria Elena, Ando buscando mamá…
Joe Loss & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
La Familia Andre Azucenas para tí traigo Maria Elena Del jardín que cultivé l…
Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Lorenzo Barcelata Quiero cantarte mujer Mi mas bonita cancion Por que eres tu…
Los Indios Tabajaras ya le absorvimos parejo y andamos bien paniqueados el vino…
Los Lumaquinos Alegres Vuelve, nuevamente Esta una fusión de estilos Comuna de Luma…
Mantovani & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Mariachi Cobre Quiero cantarte, mujer Mi más bonita canción Porque eres tú …
Marimba Orquesta Alma Tuneca Por andar tomando vino Por andar tomando ron Por andar toman…
Marty Robbins Maria Elena, you're the answer to a prayer, Maria Elena can'…
Michael Bublé Maria Elena you're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena can't…
Muggsy Spanier & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Nat "King" Cole Tuyo es mi corazn oh sol de mi querer Mujer de…
Nat King Cole Tuyo es mi corazón El sol de mi querer Mujer de mi…
Pedro Fernández Que culpa tengo de quererte Maria, De que tu seas el…
Raul Malo Maria Elena, you're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena, can…
robert mandell and his orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
The Mom & Dads Busted flat in Baton Rouge Waitin' for the train Feelin' n…
The Smithereens Little girl, little one He gave his heart to you In this…
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
Wayne King Like minutes are to an hour Darling, so you are to…
Wayne King & His Orchestra Maria Elena You're the answer to a prayer Maria Elena Can't …
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