Kenny O'Dell
Encyclopedia
Kenny O'Dell is an American
country music
singer and songwriter
.Early in his career he worked with guitar legand,Duane Eddy,and his own band, Guys and Dolls. He is best known for writing the country
hit
"Behind Closed Doors
", which Charlie Rich
recorded
, and "Mama He's Crazy
" for The Judds
. "Behind Closed Doors" won a Grammy Award
in 1973 for Best Country & Western Recording
.
Rich also scored a top 10 hit in 1972 with the O'Dell penned song "I Take It On Home". O'Dell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
. His only Billboard Hot 100
appearance came in 1967, when "Beautiful People" climbed to number 38, and 1968 the local hit "Springfield Plane." O'Dell also had a top 10 country hit on his own with "Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin'" in 1978.
When O'Dell first moved to Nashville, he ran Bobby Goldsboro
's publishing company. He's had other hit covers including "Trouble in Paradise" by Loretta Lynn in 1974.
1973—CMA\Song of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—CMA\Single of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—ACM\Song of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—ACM\Single of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1984—Nashville Songwriters Association International\Songwriter of the Year
1984—NSAI\Song of the Year\"Mama He's Crazy"
1985—BMI\Country Song of the Year\"Mama He's Crazy"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.Early in his career he worked with guitar legand,Duane Eddy,and his own band, Guys and Dolls. He is best known for writing the country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
hit
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
"Behind Closed Doors
Behind Closed Doors (Charlie Rich song)
"Behind Closed Doors" is a country song written by Kenny O'Dell and first recorded by Charlie Rich for his 1973 album Behind Closed Doors. The single became Rich's first number-one hit on the country charts, spent 20 weeks on this chart, and also became a crossover hit on the pop charts...
", which Charlie Rich
Charlie Rich
Charles Rich was an American country music singer and musician. A Grammy Award winner, his eclectic-style of music was often hard to classify in a single genre, playing in the rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel genres.In the latter part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname The Silver...
recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, and "Mama He's Crazy
Mama He's Crazy
"Mama He's Crazy" is the title of a song written by Kenny O'Dell and recorded by American country music duo The Judds. The song was The Judds' second country hit and the first of fourteen number one country hits. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the...
" for The Judds
The Judds
The Judds were an American country music duo composed of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna Judd. Signed to RCA Records in 1983, the duo released six studio albums between then and 1991. One of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds won five Grammy Awards for Best Country...
. "Behind Closed Doors" won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1973 for Best Country & Western Recording
Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording
The Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording was awarded from 1959 to 1968. From 1959 to 1961 the award was presented as the Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Performance...
.
Rich also scored a top 10 hit in 1972 with the O'Dell penned song "I Take It On Home". O'Dell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
. His only Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
appearance came in 1967, when "Beautiful People" climbed to number 38, and 1968 the local hit "Springfield Plane." O'Dell also had a top 10 country hit on his own with "Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin'" in 1978.
When O'Dell first moved to Nashville, he ran Bobby Goldsboro
Bobby Goldsboro
Bobby Goldsboro is an American country and pop singer-songwriter. He had a string of Pop and Country hits during the 1960s and 1970s, including his signature #1 classic "Honey," which sold well over one million copies in the United States.-Early life:Goldsboro was born in Marianna, Florida...
's publishing company. He's had other hit covers including "Trouble in Paradise" by Loretta Lynn in 1974.
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Beautiful People | Vegas |
| 1974 | Kenny O'Dell | Capricorn |
| 1978 | Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1962 | "Old Time Love" | — | — | — | single only |
| 1967 | "Beautiful People" | — | 38 | — | Beautiful People |
| 1968 | "Springfield Plane" | — | — | — | singles only |
| "I Could Love You" | — | — | — | ||
| "Bless Your Little Heart" | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "If I Was a Rambler" | — | — | — | |
| 1971 | "Jubal" | — | — | — | |
| 1972 | "Why Don't We Go Somewhere and Love" | — | — | — | |
| "Lizzie and the Rainman Lizzie and the Rainman ""Lizzie and the Rainman" is as song written by Kenny O'Dell and Larry Henley which was a #1 C&W hit for Tanya Tucker in 1975.A narrative song as was typical for the first phase of Tucker's career, "Lizzie and the Rainman" relates how a... " |
— | — | — | ||
| 1973 | "Rock and Roll Man" | — | — | — | |
| 1974 | "You Bet Your Sweet, Sweet Love" | 58 | — | — | Kenny O'Dell |
| "I'll Find Another Way (To Say I Love You)" | — | — | — | ||
| 1975 | "Soulful Woman" | 18 | — | 36 | |
| "My Honky Tonk Ways" | 37 | 105 | — | singles only | |
| "I Can't Think When You're Doin'" | — | — | — | ||
| 1978 | "Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin'" | 9 | — | — | Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin |
| "As Long as I Can Wake Up in Your Arms" | 12 | — | 14 | ||
| 1979 | "Medicine Woman" | 32 | — | — | single only |
Awards
1973—Grammy\Best Country Song\"Behind Closed Doors"1973—CMA\Song of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—CMA\Single of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—ACM\Song of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—ACM\Single of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1984—Nashville Songwriters Association International\Songwriter of the Year
1984—NSAI\Song of the Year\"Mama He's Crazy"
1985—BMI\Country Song of the Year\"Mama He's Crazy"