Kenny O'Dell


Kenneth Guy Gist Jr., known as Kenny O'Dell, was an American country music singer and songwriter, best known for writing the number-one country hits "Behind Closed Doors" and "Mama He's Crazy". O'Dell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Career

Early in his career, he worked with guitarist Duane Eddy, and his own band, Guys and Dolls. When O'Dell first moved to Nashville in 1969, he ran Bobby Goldsboro's publishing company.
He also wrote pop and soft rock songs, including "Next Plane to London", which was a Top 20 hit in 1967 for The Rose Garden. Charlie Rich had a top 10 country hit in 1972 with the O'Dell song, "I Take It On Home". It was followed by "Behind Closed Doors", which won a Grammy Award in 1973 for Best Country & Western Recording. O'Dell wrote or co-wrote the number-one country hits "Trouble in Paradise" and "Lizzie and the Rainman". His other top-10 hit was "What I've Got in Mind".
As a performer, O'Dell had a top-40 pop hit with "Beautiful People", released in 1967. He later had five top-40 country hits, topped by the top-10 hit "Let's Shake Hands And Come Out Lovin'" in 1978. The follow-up, "As Long As I Can Wake Up In Your Arms" peaked at No. 12 in 1979.

Personal life and death

O'Dell's wife, guitarist Vivian J. "Corki" Ray Gist died at the age of 80 in 2017. The couple had three children.
O'Dell died of natural causes on March 27, 2018 in Cool Springs, Tennessee. He was 73.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Awards