Kenny O'Dell

Kenny O'Dell (born Kenneth Gist Jr., 1946 in Oklahoma) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Early in his career, he worked with guitarist Duane Eddy, and his own band, Guys and Dolls. 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. O'Dell also wrote pop and soft rock songs, including the song Next Plane to London which was recorded by the group Rose Garden, which had Diana DeRose from Parkersburg, West Virginia as the lead singer. The song became a Top 20 hit in 1967 on Billboard Top 100. O'Dell is credited as "Kenny Gist, Jr" on the record label of the 45 rpm record.

Rich also had 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 Top 40 appearance came in 1967 when "Beautiful People" climbed to number 38, and his only other Billboard Top 100 appearance came in 1968 with the local hit "Springfield Plane". O'Dell also had a top 10 country hit on his own with "Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin'" in 1978.