Trailblazing guitarist Corki Casey O'Dell (Vivian "Corki O'Dell" Gist) died Thursday night — two days before her 81st birthday — after several months of declining health.
Corki was born May 13, 1936, in Bunch, Oklahoma and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where she began her career as a musician and entertainer, O'Dell was part of a group of young rock 'n' rollers making waves in the Phoenix music scene during the mid-1950s. She was the only woman in that group, which included Duane Eddy, Sanford Clark and producer/songwriter Lee Hazlewood. In 1969, she married Kenny O'Dell and they moved to Nashville where Kenny pursued his songwriting career, penning "Behind Closed Doors" for his precious wife.
In 1956, she played rhythm guitar on Clark's hit "The Fool," a song written and produced by Hazlewood.
Beginning in 1957, O'Dell played on many of Duane Eddy's most memorable recordings, including twangy gems "Rebel Rouser," "Ramrod" and his take on the "Peter Gunn" theme. The pair, who had known each other since they were teenage guitarists in Phoenix, were lifelong friends and sidekicks. Eddy fondly called her "the first side-chick of rock 'n' roll."
In 2014, O'Dell, Barbara Mandrell and Velma Smith were the first three women inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. She called that moment her "Cinderella night,"
O'Dell, a longtime resident of Nolensville, is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Kenny O'Dell, three children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Corki was born May 13, 1936, in Bunch, Oklahoma and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where she began her career as a musician and entertainer, O'Dell was part of a group of young rock 'n' rollers making waves in the Phoenix music scene during the mid-1950s. She was the only woman in that group, which included Duane Eddy, Sanford Clark and producer/songwriter Lee Hazlewood. In 1969, she married Kenny O'Dell and they moved to Nashville where Kenny pursued his songwriting career, penning "Behind Closed Doors" for his precious wife.
In 1956, she played rhythm guitar on Clark's hit "The Fool," a song written and produced by Hazlewood.
Beginning in 1957, O'Dell played on many of Duane Eddy's most memorable recordings, including twangy gems "Rebel Rouser," "Ramrod" and his take on the "Peter Gunn" theme. The pair, who had known each other since they were teenage guitarists in Phoenix, were lifelong friends and sidekicks. Eddy fondly called her "the first side-chick of rock 'n' roll."
In 2014, O'Dell, Barbara Mandrell and Velma Smith were the first three women inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. She called that moment her "Cinderella night,"
O'Dell, a longtime resident of Nolensville, is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Kenny O'Dell, three children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Trailblazing guitarist Corki Casey O'Dell (Vivian "Corki O'Dell" Gist) died Thursday night — two days before her 81st birthday — after several months of declining health.
Corki was born May 13, 1936, in Bunch, Oklahoma and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where she began her career as a musician and entertainer, O'Dell was part of a group of young rock 'n' rollers making waves in the Phoenix music scene during the mid-1950s. She was the only woman in that group, which included Duane Eddy, Sanford Clark and producer/songwriter Lee Hazlewood. In 1969, she married Kenny O'Dell and they moved to Nashville where Kenny pursued his songwriting career, penning "Behind Closed Doors" for his precious wife.
In 1956, she played rhythm guitar on Clark's hit "The Fool," a song written and produced by Hazlewood.
Beginning in 1957, O'Dell played on many of Duane Eddy's most memorable recordings, including twangy gems "Rebel Rouser," "Ramrod" and his take on the "Peter Gunn" theme. The pair, who had known each other since they were teenage guitarists in Phoenix, were lifelong friends and sidekicks. Eddy fondly called her "the first side-chick of rock 'n' roll."
In 2014, O'Dell, Barbara Mandrell and Velma Smith were the first three women inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. She called that moment her "Cinderella night,"
O'Dell, a longtime resident of Nolensville, is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Kenny O'Dell, three children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Corki was born May 13, 1936, in Bunch, Oklahoma and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where she began her career as a musician and entertainer, O'Dell was part of a group of young rock 'n' rollers making waves in the Phoenix music scene during the mid-1950s. She was the only woman in that group, which included Duane Eddy, Sanford Clark and producer/songwriter Lee Hazlewood. In 1969, she married Kenny O'Dell and they moved to Nashville where Kenny pursued his songwriting career, penning "Behind Closed Doors" for his precious wife.
In 1956, she played rhythm guitar on Clark's hit "The Fool," a song written and produced by Hazlewood.
Beginning in 1957, O'Dell played on many of Duane Eddy's most memorable recordings, including twangy gems "Rebel Rouser," "Ramrod" and his take on the "Peter Gunn" theme. The pair, who had known each other since they were teenage guitarists in Phoenix, were lifelong friends and sidekicks. Eddy fondly called her "the first side-chick of rock 'n' roll."
In 2014, O'Dell, Barbara Mandrell and Velma Smith were the first three women inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. She called that moment her "Cinderella night,"
O'Dell, a longtime resident of Nolensville, is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Kenny O'Dell, three children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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