Del Wood
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Del Wood | |
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Birth name | Polly Adelaide Hendricks |
Also known as | Del Wood |
Born | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | February 22, 1920
Died | October 3, 1989 | (aged 69)
Genres | Country, honky tonk, ragtime |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Years active | 1951–1989 |
Labels | Tennessee Records |
Polly Adelaide Hendricks Hazelwood (February 22, 1920 – October 3, 1989),[1] known professionally as Del Wood, was an American pianist.[2][3]
Early life
Hendricks was born in
Career
Shortening her married name (Adelaide Hazelwood) to something easier to remember, 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
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.
In 1984, Del Wood appeared in the movie Rhinestone, starring Dolly Parton and Sylvester Stallone as the pianist in the Wild Possums Band.
Death
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.[1]
She was interred in the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- ISBN 0-8230-7632-6.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. "CMT.com : Del Wood : Biography". cmt.com. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ^ ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
External links
- Del Wood at Find a Grave
- The short film Country Style USA Recruitment: Episode 39 is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.