Del Wood
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Del Wood was the professional pseudonym used by pianist Polly Adelaide Hendricks (February 22, 1920 - October 3, 1989).
Hendricks was born in Nashville, Tennessee. She took up piano at age 5, and played ragtime, gospel, and country music.
In 1950 "Del Wood" had a hit with "Down Yonder" on Tennessee Records. Some have said that this was the first record by a female instrumentalist to sell one million copies.
She first performed on the Grand Ole Opry in February of 1952. The following year she was hired as a staff performer on the Opry, where she continued to perform until the year of her death from a stroke.
Jerry Lee Lewis cited Del Wood as an early influence.
