Bobbie Gentry is a retired American singer-songwriter. She was one of the first female artists in America to compose and produce her own material.
Gentry in a publicity photo for Capitol Records in 1969
Gentry in 1968
Billboard advertisement, May 8, 1971
"Ode to Billie Joe" is a song by American singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry released by Capitol Records in July 1967, and later used as the title-track of her debut album. Five weeks after its release, the song topped Billboard's Pop singles chart. It also appeared in the top 10 of the Adult Contemporary and Hot R&B singles charts, and in the top 20 of the Hot Country Songs list.
In this photograph from the November 10, 1967 issue of Life magazine, Gentry crosses the Tallahatchie Bridge in Sidon, Mississippi
Capitol Records publicity poster featuring Gentry