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.
Ode to Billie Joe
Del Wood Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Ode to Billie Joe' by these artists:
Aretha Franklin & King Curtis It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Carla Cook It was the third of June another sleepy dusty Delta…
Diana Ross It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Gemma Cullingford It was the third of June another sleepy dusty Delta…
Ike & Tina Turner It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Joe Tex It was the third of June Another sleepy, dusty, delta day I…
King Curtis It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs It was the third of June another sleepy dusty Delta…
Mel Brown It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Molly Johnson It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
Sheryl Crow It was the third of June Another sleepy, dusty I was out…
Tammy Wynette It was the third of June another sleepy dusty Delta…
The 5th Dimension It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Del Wood:
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@user-ly1xo4sf6n
As a 5 or 6 year old, I already had enough experience with a dad who was SQUARE, whose idea of music was Mitch Miller AND who always insisted I get a crew-cut at the barber shop.
Seeing Sullivan in his stuffy suit jacket and tie was bad enough. AND watching his body language, that STIFF SHOULDER and torso, was a turn off. My siblings and I watched his show only for the acts that featured cooler people -- NOT HIM.
We saw Sullivan as an old fuddy-duddy, like our old man. AND that talking Italian mouse act I ESPECIALLY HATED, being 2nd generation Italian-American.
THEN, one night, Ed BROKE INTO A BIG SMILE as he extended his arm, gesturing to the curtain/stage announcing " T H E BEATLES !! " THAT ONE TIME Ed seemed human and maybe not so square. AND, a few years later, with my constant begging, pleading, and a little help from my aunt ( whom I recently learned my dad had a crush on, before he married her sister -- my mother !! ), my dad finally gave in.
I was allowed to grow my hair longer for the first time, 1967 or '68. THREE OR FOUR YEARS AFTER THE FAB FOUR MADE LONGER HAIR POPULAR !!
Better late than never, I guess. : D
11 p.m. 10/26/23
@FleagleSangria
Maybe you should check your facts. Though Ed was no fan of rock n roll he knew what was going to be popular and though he reisisted having Elvis on he could not deny his popularity after Elvis had appeared on the Steve Allen Show. Yet the idea that Ed couldnt stand Elvis is simply not true. He changed his mind and Elvis won him over. Why? Because Elvis was respectful and said “Yes sir”
Ed then backtracked and said to the audience “I just want you to know, this is a fine young man” So while Ed may not have been into the music of the kids (because that is what it was, kids music) he did have a level of respect for Elvis.
Quietly, though, he was pursuing Elvis. He watched kinescopes of Presley’s appearances on the Dorsey and Berle shows. Satisfied that there was “nothing objectionable” in Elvis’ stage behavior, he contacted Colonel Parker and opened secret negotiations.
Ed Sullivan was ecstatic. “I feel as if I’ve been vindicated,” said the smiling Sullivan. “People told me I was nuts to give Presley $50,000 for three shots. It’s the most I’ve ever paid a performer. If I had been wrong, I’d have had to eat crow, and who likes to eat crow? I saw the show with my wife and daughter, both of whom were dubious about Presley before he came on. When he finished, we were all delighted with his performance. He’s a very boyish, likeable kid.”
So, no, Ed didn’t dislike or hate Elvis. He was simply afraid that his investment would backfire from conservatives.
@FactsVerse
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@spiffy830
These singers were all great - ED SULLIVAN was the problem
@davidwesley2525
@@spiffy830Ed Sullivan was an OLD SQUARE.
😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
@sparky6086
Is this done by AI? For a channel called "Facts Verse" It certainly isn't very "factual"
@louislamboley9167
This guy is trying to rewrite history with misleading information. Elvis and Ed got along fine. It was the Government Censors that banned Elvis' body movements. Ed Sullivan was on at 9. And Jim Morrison sang Light My Fire exactly like the recording.
@musicland2024-gq2pb
jim morrison and sam cooke stood there grounds plus bob dylan
@royscott3432
Showing Gary Busey (playing Buddy) instead of the real Buddy Holly is misleading and confusing to younger people who don’t really know Buddy Holly. Come on , that’s just lazy.
@michaelcranstoun8296
They still showed Buddy Holly in four film clips, despite showing Busey.
@paititi
The whole premise of this silly video is deceptive. Actually, it was Ed Sullivan who saved Elvis’s career in the very early days, when much public opinion was going against Elvis, yet just before Elvis’s appearance Ed announced to the national audience that he had come to know Elvis, and that he was actually a fine and respectful fellow. And as for poseur and drunkard Morrison, he lied to Sullivan, and no one wants a second meeting with a sleaze who lies to your face.
@michaelcranstoun8296
Absolutely correct!