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.
Mary's Boy Child
Del Wood Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Mary's Boy Child' by these artists:
Aaron Neville Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said Mary's…
Andraé Crouch Now He was born in a manger in the town…
Belafonte Harry Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's boy…
Boney M Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. An…
Boney M - Topic Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day An…
Bra Julmusik Long time ago in Bethlehem The Holy Bible say Mary′s boy chi…
Bryn Terfel Long time ago in Bethlehem, So the Holy Bible say, Mary's bo…
BZN Mary's Boy Child (Hairston) Long time ago in Bethlehem …
Celtic Woman Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible says, Mary's…
Christmas Long time ago in Bethlehem The Holy Bible said Mary's boy ch…
Christmas Christmas Songs & Xmas Hits Out here is the country there's magic in the air. It's…
Christmas Hits Long time ago in Bethlehem The Holy Bible said Mary's boy ch…
Christmas Songs Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. An…
Christmas! Long time ago in Bethlehem The Holy Bible said Mary's boy ch…
David Foster Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible says Mary's boy…
Harry Belafonte Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible say, Mary's bo…
Harry Belafonte & Lorin Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's boy…
Harry Belafonte (Holiday) Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's bo…
Harry Belafonte - Topic Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's boy…
Harry Belafonte with Will Lorin and His Orchestra Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's bo…
Hi-5 Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary′s boy…
Hi5 VERSE 1: Long time ago in Bethlehem so The Holy Bible…
It's a Cover Up Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day And…
Jan & Dean The world looks rosy op on sweetheart hill For a girl…
Jester Hairston Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said, Mary's…
Jim Reeves Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's bo…
Johnny Mathis Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said Mary's…
Johnny Reid Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day An…
Jose Mari Chan Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. An…
Kamahl Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary′s boy…
Larry Mayfield & Singers Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day And…
Lee Kernaghan Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's boy…
Lianie May Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said, Mary's…
Matt Monro Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. An…
Neil Diamond Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible says Mary's boy…
New London Chorale Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's boy…
Nick & Simon Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's…
Nina Frederik Long time ago in Bethlehem, So the Holy Bible say, Mary''s b…
Pussycat Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. An…
Roland Kaiser Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible say Mary's…
Sissel Long time ago in Bethlehem so the Holy Bible says Mary's…
Sissel Kyrkjebø Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible said; Mary's bo…
Steven C & Christmas Hits Long time ago in Bethlehem The Holy Bible said Mary's boy ch…
Stig Rossen Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's boy…
The Mistletoe Singers Co che purahéipe hi'ante amombáy paraguai porãme Ha oim…
The Prestonwood Choir & Singers & The London Symphonica Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day And…
TobyMac Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. An…
Tom Jones Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible says Mary's boy…
Vienna Boys Choir Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said, Mary's…
Voices of Winter Long time ago in Bethelem The Holy Bible say Mary′s boy chil…
Will Lorin Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's bo…
Wolfgang Petry Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, Was born on Christmas Day…
Toby Mac Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. An…
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