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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZO'DELL, Kenny(b Kenny Gist Jr. '46, OK) One of Nashville's most successful songwriters with an all-too brief career as pop/country singer. Raised in California; began his own Mar-Kay Records and self-penned regional hit "Old Time Love' '63; formed Guys And Dolls and toured with Duane Eddy; self-penned "Beautiful People' on the Vegas label made top 40 pop charts '67 and was covered by Bobby Vee for a slightly bigger hit; another of his songs "Next Plane To London' recorded by Rose Garden made Top 20 '68; he moved to Nashville '69 to run Bobby Goldsboro's House Of Gold publishing company, his songs recorded by country stars incl. Sandy Posey ("Why Don't We Go Somewhere And Love'), Charlie Rich ("I Take It On Home'); the really big one came with "Behind Closed Doors' '73, a major country-pop crossover hit for Rich that was named Song Of The Year by both CMA and ACM. O'Dell signed to Capricorn '74 for minor country hits '74-7, top 10 with "Let's Shake Hands And Come Out Lovin' '78; continued to pen country hits incl. "Lizzie And The Rainman' (Tanya Tucker), "Mama He's Crazy' (The Judds) etc. Albums incl. Kenny O'Dell '75, Let's Shake Hands And Come Out Lovin' '78 both on Capricorn. |