GREENWOOD, Miss.–Why Bobbie Gentry did not show up for her Mississippi Country Music Trail marker unveiling Thursday-who know. The “Ode to Billy Joe” singer/songwriter disappeared from public life in 1982, and when she retired, she really retired.
Gentry was born Roberta Lee Streeter in Chickasaw County and moved to Greenwood, where she was a standout at her elementary school, getting the lead as a third grader in the school musical. Students in grades one through six auditioned.
Donnie Whitehead, who was a schoolmate of Gentry’s, recalled his experiences in the production of “The Pied Piper of Hamlin”. He said he, as a first grader, was one of the rats piped out of town, while Gentry assumed the starring role.
But for someone who was a natural in the spotlight then, she has seemingly had no interesting in a starring role since her music career came to a self-induced end.
“She kind of lives a mysterious life,” said Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams, “no one knows where she is.”
Gentry was described Thursday as a one in a million Mississippian.
“She could sing, she could dance, she could play four or five instruments, she was beautiful,” said Allan Hamons, who designed the marker.
He also brought several articles and interviews from “Life” magazine and “The Clarion-Ledger”. They were from the 60s and 70s.
Hammons also had info on which bridge it was that Gentry wrote about in Ode to Billy Joe.
“It’s like Robert Johnson (another Delta native) who had three graves, there were three bridges associated with Bobbie Gentry and “Ode to Billy Joe”.
Play the audio to find out which bridge inspired the song.
The marker was erected on the edge of the bridge at Riverside Dr. and Grand Blvd. in Greenwood.
Gentry also wrote the song “Fancy”, which was a hit for Reba McIntyre, and “Okalona River Bottom Band”. She also dueted with Glen Campbell in the mid 70s on several minor hits.
The band The Firm performed “Ode to Billy Joe” at Thursday’s dedication.
