Some years ago, Tom Wopat was a young actor on the television series "The Dukes Of Hazzard." I was amazing to see him some sixteen years ago with Bernadette Peters doing a wonderful acting and singing job on an award-winning Broadway remake of "Annie Get Your Gun." He and Bernadette Peters sang beautiful music with amazing spontaneity, smoothness and chemistry. Great songs. Great play.
About a year ago, I was listening to public radio (NPR) and I heard a recording of Tom Wopat singing (in studio, live and smoky) Bobby Gentry's haunting 1960's country and western tune "Ode To Billie Joe." Simple, soulful and elegant -- a hidden treasure, this one. Deep, deep southern feel -- like a wraith out of the early 1900's. Farm family on the edge of poverty. And that mystery: What was Billie Joe McCallister throwing off the bridge with his life's greatest love, before he took the lonesome plunge to his own death?
Tom has a fine bourbon- rough/mellow voice, with just the right part southern twang. His only accompaniment being an acoustic guitar (Key of E Major, funky strum), a haunting Hammond (creepin' in through the back), .... light, light drums and a gentle bass. Nice, smooth black velvet guitar solo, with gently bent strings like weeping wheat in the wind.
The song is a treat to the ears, the soul and the heart.
Gentry's impeccable lyrics ride well in Tom Wopat's gentle but masculine voice. You can feel a tornado coming in the distance ---
All in all, this song must be listened to. Get everybody you care about and tell them to listen to Tom Wopat's bayou-spooky version of "Ode To Billie Joe," here on The RadioDAZZ Blog.
Just click on the hyperlink or the video player and treat yourself to some deep, southern, country-fried soul. And y'all remember to wipe your feet. Y' hear?
The RadioDAZZ guy needs your love like the parched, sunburned desert craves a soaking rain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akvybBCu-L4
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