Kenny O'Dell

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Kenny O'Dell (born Kenneth Gist Jr., 1946, Oklahoma) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known for writing the country hit "Behind Closed Doors", which Charlie Rich recorded, and "Mama He's Crazy", for The Judds. "Behind Closed Doors" won a Grammy Award in 1973 for Best Country & Western Recording.

Rich also scored a Top 10 hit in 1972 with the O'Dell penned song "I Take It on Home". O'Dell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His only Billboard Hot 100 chart appearance came in 1967, when "Beautiful People" climbed to number 38.

When O'Dell first moved to Nashville, he ran Bobby Goldsboro's publishing company. He's had other hit covers including "Trouble in Paradise" by Loretta Lynn in 1974.

[edit] Awards

1973--Grammy\Best Country Song\"Behind Closed Doors"

1973--CMA\Song of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"

1973--CMA\Single of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"

1973--ACM\Song of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"

1973--ACM\Single of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"

1984--Nashville Songwriters Association International\Songwriter of the Year

1984--NSAI\Song of the Year\"Mama He's Crazy"

1985--BMI\Country Song of the Year\"Mama He's Crazy"

[edit] External Links

• Nashville Songwriters profile