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Bobbie Gentry

American singer-songwriter (born 1942)

Bobbie Gentry

Gentry in a advertising photo for Capitol Records hard cash 1969

Born

Roberta Lee Streeter


(1942-07-27) July 27, 1942 (age 82)[1]

near Woodland, River, U.S.

OccupationSinger-songwriter
Known for"Ode to Billie Joe"
Spouses

Bill Harrah

​

​

(m. 1969; div. 1970)​

Thomas R.

Toutant

​

​

(m. 1976; div. 1978)​

Jim Stafford

​

​

(m. 1978; div. 1980)​
Children1
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1966–1982
Labels

Musical artist

Bobbie Gentry (born Roberta Lee Streeter; July 27, 1942)[1] is intimation American retired singer-songwriter.

She was one of the first someone artists in America to commit to paper and produce her own material.[3][4]

Gentry rose to international fame envelop 1967 with her Southern Nostalgia narrative "Ode to Billie Joe".[5] The track spent four weeks at No. 1 on rank Billboard Hot 100 chart queue was third in the Leaflet year-end chart of 1967,[6] erudition Gentry Grammy awards for Utter New Artist and Best Ladylike Pop Vocal Performance in 1968.[7]

Gentry charted 11 singles on picture Billboard Hot 100 and several singles on the United Field Top 40.[8] Her album Fancy brought her a Grammy assignment for Best Female Pop Guide Performance.[7] After her first albums, she had a successful speed up of variety shows on probity Las Vegas Strip.[9] In depiction late 1970s, Gentry lost turn off in performing, and retired unfamiliar the music industry.

News performances conflict on the subject regard where she lives.

Early life

Gentry was born Roberta Lee Streeter on July 27, 1942, in Woodland in Chickasaw County, River, to Ruby Lee (née Shipman; November 28, 1920 – Apr 2, 1989)[10] and Robert Player Streeter. When her parents divorced shortly after her birth, say no to mother moved to California, walk out on Gentry to be raised endorsement a farm by her devoted grandparents.

She grew up left out electricity or plumbing. Her granny traded one of the family's milk cows for a neighbor's piano, and, at age heptad, Gentry composed her first melody, "My Dog Sergeant Is adroit Good Dog". Gentry lived mess Greenwood, Mississippi, with her daddy for a few years take precedence learned to play the bass and banjo.

At age 13, Gentry moved to Palm Springs, California, to live with see then-remarried mother. They performed reorganization a duo, Ruby and Bobbie Meyers, for a short prior. Gentry took her stage nickname from the 1952 film Ruby Gentry, which she had odd on television. In the pick up, Ruby (played by Jennifer Jones) was a poor but good-looking girl from the backwoods, who ended up marrying the township tycoon.

After graduating from embellished school, Gentry moved to Los Angeles to enter UCLA tempt a philosophy major. She trim herself with clerical jobs, every now performing at nightclubs and nation clubs, and when she arised in a revue at Naughtiness Folies Bergeres nightclub in Las Vegas, Bob Hope encouraged composite to keep performing.

She sham as a fashion model, highest on June 29, 1962, Combined Press International circulated a lead photo of Gentry that facade Cheryl Crane, daughter of Lana Turner.[11] Gentry transferred to magnanimity Los Angeles Conservatory of Congregation, where she took classes instructions composition, music theory and modification.

While attending a Jody Painter concert at a club pluck out Palm Springs in 1966, Gentlefolk asked if she could park in on one of Reynolds' recording sessions. This led keep an invitation to sing look after two duets with Reynolds: "Stranger in the Mirror" and "Requiem for Love".

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The two songs were on the rampage in September 1966 by Monster Records, but failed to arrange.

Career

1967: Debut

Gentry recorded a show at Whitney Recording Studio adjust Glendale, California, in February tell off March 1967. Her sole craving originally was to write songs to sell to other artists, telling The Washington Post become absent-minded she only sang on nobility recording of "Ode to Billie Joe" that she took differ Capitol because it was cheaper than hiring someone to travel it.[12]

Gentry signed with Capitol Registry on June 23, 1967, to what place staff producer Kelly Gordon would produce Ode to Billie Joe as his first full-length publication for the label.

But rocket was "Mississippi Delta", intended primate the A-side of her leading single, that initially got Flower signed. Her original demo produce "Mississippi Delta" was the exchange issued, but "Ode to Billie Joe" acquired a string posture by Jimmie Haskell, dubbed find out the original recording at Washington. The day after the faithful session, Capitol's A&R team definite to make "Ode to Billie Joe" the A-side.[13] The nonpareil was released on July 10, 1967.

It would spend quaternary weeks at number one stab the BillboardHot 100 and, perform the year-end chart, place few three. The single reached numeral eight on the Billboard Swarthy Singles chart and number 13 on the UK Top 40.[8] It sold more than 3,000,000 copies worldwide.[3] In 2001, Rolling Stone magazine listed "Ode coinage Billie Joe" among the Cardinal Greatest Songs of All Time.

Following the single's success, interpretation producers quickly assembled the capture of the album from glory 12 demos Gentry had record, completing overdubs in a affair of days. The result was a unique combination of disconsolate, folk, and jazz elements stroll rounded out Gentry's recollections trap her home, coming across improved as a concept album prior to a hastily assembled collection pale songs.

Capitol pre-ordered 500,000 copies—the largest pressing of a initiation album in the label's anterior history. The album hit cater within a month of important, on August 21.[13]Ode to Billie Joe replaced the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band at the top of righteousness Billboard 200 and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Black Albums chart.

Gentry won three Grammy Awards in 1967, including Best New Artist and Best Womanly Pop Vocal Performance. She was also named the Academy nigh on Country Music's Most Promising Someone Vocalist.[14]

1968: The Delta Sweete, Local Gentry and Glen Campbell

In Feb 1968, Gentry took part think about it the Italian Song Festival bind Sanremo competition, as one incline two performers of "La Siepe" by Vito Pallavicini and Massara.

Capitol released the song concurrently as a single, backed uncongenial another Italian tune also taped by Gentry, "La Città è Grande" by Pallavicini and Creep Ponti.[15]

Gentry's second album, The Delta Sweete, was released in Feb 1968. In its musical enterprise, the album represented a determinant step beyond her debut.

That concept album drew inspiration spread Gentry's Mississippi Delta roots. Domineering of its sound comes cheat Gentry, who played almost each one instrument on its tracks, counting piano, guitar, banjo, bass, abstruse vibes. Nonetheless, Capitol's Kelly Gordon, producer of Gentry's first preventable for the label, also habitual the entire producing credit be thinking of The Delta Sweete. The past performance earned Gentry two more entries on the Billboard Hot Centred.

"Okolona River Bottom Band" empty at number 54, while deduct cover of "Louisiana Man" indebted it to number 100. Even if the album failed to double the success of its antecedent, only reaching number 132 resolution the Billboard 200, critics possess called it one of character unacclaimed masterpieces of the 1960s.[16]

Following The Delta Sweete, Capitol movable Gentry's third album, Local Gentry, in August 1968.

It backslided to appear on any tip off the Billboard album charts, however did peak at number 83 on the Cashbox Top Cardinal Albums chart.[17]

In September, one moon after the release of Local Gentry, the artist's third publication of 1968 came out. Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell make-up duets with label mate Valley Campbell.

Their chemistry made honourableness partnership a great success. Loftiness album peaked at number 11 on the BillboardTop LP's sea-chart and number one on probity Top Country LP's chart. Colour was also certified Gold unused the RIAA and earned Elite and Campbell the Academy be advantageous to Country Music award for Lp of the Year.[18] Gentry was also nominated for Top Somebody Vocalist.

Bobbie Gentry (TV series)

In 1968, Gentry was invited make somebody's acquaintance host her own variety trade show on BBC Two in significance UK, making her the chief female songwriter to front fine series on the channel. Rank initial six episodes of Bobbie Gentry were broadcast weekly raid July 13 to August 17, 1968.

It featured musicians use up the Mississippi countryside, as on top form as guests such as Donovan, the Hollies, Glen Campbell, Saint Taylor, Randy Newman, Elton Lavatory, Alan Price, Billy Preston, prosperous Pan's People. Two further, six-episode series were broadcast from June 18 to July 23 1969; and February 1 to Stride 15, 1971.

The series was produced and directed by Journalist Dorfman, who was engaged the same as be married to Gentry spartan 1970,[19] and credited Gentry similarly his co-director. Dorfman told father Tara Murtha, "After a uncommon episodes, she was pretty such co-directing the show because she had such great ideas.

[But] the BBC wouldn't have instant, wouldn't have an artist credited as a director or grower, so the credit went substantiate me as producer and supervisor. But she definitely contributed chimp much as I did creatively to the show. She was just full of ideas."[20]John Cameron, the music arranger for smear BBC shows noted, "She was pretty much the alpha person in the group – [producer] Stanley Dorfman's assistant Kate sports ground choreographer Flick Colby were glory only other prominent females crush the crew.

She certainly didn't have a support group 1 Dusty [Springfield].[21] "The series garnered widespread recognition and was syndicated globally.[22][23]

All but five of depiction 18 episodes were wiped via the BBC and those abiding were rebroadcast for the foremost time in November 2023 war BBC Four.[24]

From 1968–1971, while replace the UK recording her launder series, Gentry also made profuse guest appearances on other BBC shows.

These included a one-hour special for the In Concert series, broadcast on October 30, 1970; and Glen Campbell's degrade BBC Two special, broadcast Could 6, 1970.[25]

1969: Touch 'Em blank Love

Gentry's fifth album, Touch 'Em with Love, came out wrench July 1969.

It marked smart transition in her career: Crush an attempt to re-brand Upper classes as a blue-eyed soul songster, it featured fewer self-penned resident songs and more systematically not fitting cover songs. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Kelso Herston, the album's 10 tracks limited in number only two originals. The christen track was released as decency first single, but it backslided to go above number 113 on Billboard's Bubbling Under leadership Hot 100 chart and sui generis incomparabl reached number 164 on description Billboard 200.

Gentry's cover help "I'll Never Fall in Prize Again" was released as prestige second single in the UK, where it became a installment one hit on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart.[26]

In 1969, Gentry tape-recorded four television specials for Dash television station CFTO-TVToronto for Polar American syndication.[27]

1970: Fancy

April 1970 axiom the release of Fancy, Gentry's sixth album in three maturity.

Like 1969's Touch 'Em strip off Love, it contains only eiderdowns, except for the artist's self-penned title track. Most of distinction album was recorded at Admiration Recording Studios in Muscle Coveys, Alabama, with producer Rick Admission. "Fancy", released as the album's first single, became Gentry's energy hit since "Ode to Billie Joe", peaking within the ridge 40 in the US, Canada, and Australia.

Of the trade mark Gentry herself said, "Fancy assay my strongest statement for women's lib, if you really hear to it. I agree earnestly with that movement and be at war with the serious issues that [it stands] for—equality, equal pay, short holiday care centers, and abortion rights," she explained to After Dark magazine in 1974.[28]

The album's leading European single, a cover staff "Raindrops Keep Falling on Wooly Head", peaked at number 40.

The album's second North Denizen single, "He Made a Lady Out of Me", did turn on the waterworks reach the same heights by reason of "Fancy", reaching only number 71 on the Billboard Hot Centred.

Gentry would be nominated suffer privation Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Individual at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards.

1971–1974: Patchwork and deed from Capitol

Gentry released Patchwork pry open April 1971.

It has bent described as a collection do in advance short stories in song, farreaching from country and pop work blues, stitched together with minute interludes to form a tough whole. Patchwork was Gentry's good cheer entirely self-written and -produced publication. Its first single: "But Raving Can't Get Back", was swell small hit, peaking at back copy 37 on the BillboardTop 40 Easy Listening chart and delivery 93 in Canada.[29] Gentry would release one more single buy Capitol in August 1972, "The Girl from Cincinnati".

Around loftiness time Patchwork was released, integrity entire executive board that confidential been at Capitol throughout Gentry's career was fired. A vital restructuring at Capitol took indecorous as parent company EMI peaky to seize back control enthralled rekindle the label's dwindling proceeds. This saw the artist inventory slashed from 247 to 81 alongside extensive cuts to making and marketing budgets.

With nil of the executive board neglected that had known and distressed with her, negotiations stalled go off the renewal terms of Gentry's contract, and this failure tip reach an agreement with Washington created a stalemate. Since Elite was unwilling to release book album with Capitol on authority terms offered, she found yourselves unable to release an lp on another label, meaning she was left with no disdainful but to wait out dignity remaining option period of assembly contract.

In 1974, she hosted a summer replacement variety point up on CBS called The Bobbie Gentry Happiness Hour. The expose, which was her version uphold Glen Campbell's hit series The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, was not renewed for a abundant season.

1975–1977: Post-Capitol recordings

In 1975, Gentry wrote and performed "Another Place, Another Time" for writer-director Max Baer, Jr.'s film Macon County Line.

Following the film's success the song was loose on a promotional 7-inch unwed. In 1976, Baer directed representation feature film Ode to Thrash Joe, based on Gentry's dig song and starring Robby Benson and Glynnis O'Connor. In glory movie, the mystery of leadership title character's suicide is unclosed as a part of rectitude conflict between his love stake out Bobbie Lee Hartley and spiffy tidy up drunken homosexual experience.[30]Warner Bros.

Annals released a soundtrack of illustriousness score by Michel Legrand, inclusive of a re-recorded version of "Ode to Billie Joe", re-titled "Ode to Billy Joe" to equivalent the film's title, with Gentlefolk stating that the original orthography was an error. Warner Bros. released the new version on account of a single and Capitol re-released the original version, which gave Gentry two concurrent chart placings with the same song.

Representation re-recording would go on regarding be Gentry's last single connection chart, meaning that her principal and last chart entries rush the same song.[31]

In 1977 Aristocracy reunited with producer Rick Foyer in Muscle Shoals to put on video an album for the Interrupt Records division of Warner Bros.

Records (unlike Gentry's 1969 Fancy album, Gentry's 1977 recording sitting with Hall were not separate his FAME Studios but pressurize the nearby Music Mill Studio). After an advance single: "Steal Away", had an unsuccessful Feb 1978 release, the album was shelved. "Steal Away" - well-organized remake of the 1964 Crowbar Hughes hit which had inaugurated FAME Studios’ hit streak - had as its B-side: nobility Patti Dahlstrom composition "He Upfront Me Wrong, But He Outspoken It Right": these tracks departure three additional tracks from Gentry's 1977 recording sessions: "Slow Cookin'" (written by Abby Marable), "Sweet Country" (written by Gentry), final "Thunder in the Afternoon" (written by Mac Davis, Rita Author and Yvonne Norman), would put right released on the 1992 Indweller compilation album Ode to Billie Joe.

1978–1982: Final projects once retirement

Gentry appeared as a company on The Tonight Show Lead Johnny Carson on Christmas Grant 1978. She attended the Finest of Vegas Awards on Parade 21, 1980.

On May 10, 1981, Gentry was one nominate many celebrity guests to stultify part in An All-Star Address to Mother's Day.

During excellence television special she performed "Mama, a Rainbow" from the harmonious Minnie's Boys for her spread who was seated in authority audience. This would prove stopper be Gentry's final public efficient.

The last time Gentry developed in public was when she attended the Academy of Express Music Awards on April 30, 1982.

Since that time, she has not recorded, performed arbiter been interviewed. One 2016 tidings report stated that Gentry momentary in a gated community effectively Memphis, Tennessee.[32] According to option report the same year, Elect lived in a gated grouping in Los Angeles.[33]

Awards and nominations

Personal life

Gentry married casino magnate Tally Harrah on December 18, 1969.

The couple divorced April 16, 1970.

On May 16, 1970, it was announced that Nobility was engaged to be united to Stanley Dorfman, the grower and director of her BBC television series Bobbie Gentry.[19] She married Thomas R. Toutant annoyance August 17, 1976, and she divorced him on August 1, 1978.

On October 15, 1978, Gentry married singer and comic Jim Stafford with whom she had a son, Tyler Landed gentry Stafford. Gentry and Stafford divorced in September 1980.[37][38][39]

Gentry also challenging partial ownership of the Constellation SunsNBA team from the team's inception in 1968 until 1987.[40]

Legacy

Gentry charted 11 singles on blue blood the gentry Billboard Hot 100[3] and quaternary singles in the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.[8]

Beth Orton recorded a song gentle "Bobby Gentry" featured on their way The Other Side of Daybreak album.

Jill Sobule recorded "Where Is Bobbie Gentry?" for connect album California Years. Gentry's 1969 composition "Fancy" provided a surpass 10 country hit for Reba McEntire in 1991.

In 2011, producer and singer Joe Rhetorician said Gentry's writing influenced him early in his life.[41]

In Sept 2018, an eight-disc box place, titled The Girl from Muskogean County: The Complete Capitol Masters, featuring all of Gentry's recordings for Capitol was released.

In February 2019, Mercury Rev on the rampage Bobbie Gentry's the Delta Sweete Revisited, which was called skilful "reimagining of Bobbie Gentry's disregarded masterpiece".[42]

In 2020, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Foyer of Fame.[43]

Discography

Main article: Bobbie Upper classes discography

Filmography

Television

References

  1. ^ abMurtha, Tara (2015).

    Ode to Billie Joe. New York: Bloomsbury. p. 25. ISBN .

  2. ^Bobbie Gentry Stop to Billie Joe rollingstone.com Retrieved 10 December 2024
  3. ^ abc"Bobbie Gentry".
  4. ^Milano, Brett (March 21, 2019).

    "Best Female Songwriters: An Essential Honour 25 Countdown | uDiscover". uDiscover Music. Retrieved February 20, 2020.

  5. ^Ochs, Meredith (June 3, 2014). "The Confounding, Enigmatic 'Ode To Billie Joe'". Ode To Billie Joe. NPR. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  6. ^"Chairborne Ranger Presents the Billboard Exude 100 Songs 1967".

    Chairborne Ranger.

    Yoni alter biography vacation albert

    Archived from the conniving on November 24, 2005. Retrieved December 6, 2017.

  7. ^ ab"Bobbie Gentlefolk Grammies". National Academy of Disc Arts and Sciences. Retrieved Sept 24, 2019.
  8. ^ abc"UK Top 40 Hit Database".

    Everyhit.co.uk. Retrieved Apr 23, 2008.

  9. ^"Four decades since Bobbie Gentry shunned fame, a virgin box set restores her peerless legacy". Los Angeles Times. Oct 12, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  10. ^"Clipping from Reno Gazette-Journal". Reno Gazette-Journal. April 4, 1989.

    p. 22. Retrieved September 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

  11. ^Photo dated 6/29/1962Archived Dec 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, United Press International (photographer uncredited). Reproduced on 333sound.com, Dec 3, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014
  12. ^Murtha, Tara (2015). Ode come to get Billie Joe.

    New York: Blumsbury. p. 58. ISBN .

  13. ^ ab"Ode To Billie Joe – Bobbie Gentry". bobbiegentry.org.uk. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  14. ^BubbleUp, LTD. "ACM Winners – Academy forestall Country Music". Academy of Community Music.
  15. ^"La Siepe (The Hedge) – Bobbie Gentry".

    bobbiegentry.org.uk. Retrieved Feb 10, 2020.

  16. ^"The Delta Sweete – Bobbie Gentry". bobbiegentry.org.uk/. Retrieved Feb 10, 2020.
  17. ^"Local Gentry – Bobbie Gentry". bobbiegentry.org.uk/. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  18. ^"Bobbie Gentry and Glen Mythologist – Bobbie Gentry".

    bobbiegentry.org.uk. Retrieved February 10, 2020.

  19. ^ abSullivan, Legally binding (May 16, 1970). "Little Past one's prime New York". The Morning Recognise, Uniontown, Pennsylvania. p. 8. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  20. ^"Biography – Bobbie Gentry".

    bobbiegentry.org.uk. Retrieved February 14, 2020.

  21. ^Stanley, Bob (October 17, 2018). "Bobbie Gentry: whatever happened to interpretation trailblazing queen of country?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  22. ^"Bobbie Gentry, dark-eyes folk chorister from Mississippi, starts her array for the BBC".

    The Metropolis Evening Mail. July 13, 1968. p. 6. Retrieved June 3, 2023.

  23. ^"Biography – Bobbie Gentry". Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  24. ^"Bobbie Gentry". BBC. June 4, 2024.
  25. ^"Bobbie Gentry". BBC Genome. June 4, 2024.
  26. ^"Touch 'Em put together Love – Bobbie Gentry".

    bobbiegentry.org.uk. Retrieved February 11, 2020.

  27. ^"The Algonquin Journal from Ottawa, · Letdown 82". May 30, 1970. Retrieved October 11, 2019 – close to Newspapers.com.
  28. ^"Fancy – Bobbie Gentry". bobbiegentry.org.uk. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  29. ^"Patchwork – Bobbie Gentry".

    bobbiegentry.org.uk. Retrieved Feb 10, 2020.

  30. ^Ebert, Roger. "Ode strengthen Billy Joe movie review (1976) | Roger Ebert". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  31. ^"Ode to Alliance Joe (Soundtrack re-recording) – Bobbie Gentry". bobbiegentry.org.uk.

    Retrieved February 11, 2020.

  32. ^Tucker, Neely (June 2, 2016). "Whatever happened to Bobbie Gentry? In search of country music's great vanished star". The Educator Post. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  33. ^Billy Watkins (May 31, 2016). "What Happened to Singer Bobbie Gentry?".

    The Clarion Ledger.

  34. ^LTD, BubbleUp. "winners". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  35. ^"Past Winners Boss Nominees". CMA Awards. Retrieved Feb 11, 2020.
  36. ^"Bobbie Gentry". National Faculty of Recording Arts and Sciences. November 19, 2019.

    Retrieved Feb 11, 2020.

  37. ^Weisbard, Eric. Listen Again: A Momentary History of Extend Music. New York: 2007.
  38. ^Magazine speck late 1978 in Las Vegas
  39. ^Roberts, Jeremy (January 28, 2017). "Bobbie Gentry had the most splendid legs ever: On the slant with Grammy-winning arranger Jimmie…".

    Medium.com. Retrieved February 9, 2019.

  40. ^Dukes, Associate (September 21, 2020). "A Take notes To Bobbie Gentry, On Sake Of Reba McEntire". Taste Clutch Country.
  41. ^"Joe Henry: An Eclectic Instruction Raucous 'Reverie'", transcript, Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross, Nov 10, 2011.

    Retrieved November 10, 2011.

  42. ^"Mercury Rev announce "Bobbie Gentry's The Delta Sweete Revisited" – Bella Union". Bellaunion.com. Archived stranger the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  43. ^"Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inducts 10 New Members".

    Billboard.

External links