Richard "Dick" Flood (November 13, 1932[1] – January 9, 2023),[2] also known as Okefenokee Joe, was an American country music singer-songwriter, entertainer, and environmentalist. In the mid-1950s he was part of the duo The Country Lads and made regular appearances on CBS' The Jimmy Dean Show. In 1959, Flood's cover version of "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)" reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. His songs have been recorded by other artists, including Roy Orbison, Anita Bryant, Billy Grammer, Kathy Linden, and The Wilburn Brothers. In 1962, The Wilburn Brothers recorded his song "Trouble's Back in Town", which peaked at number 4 on the US Country Chart and was named Cashbox Magazine’s "Country Song of the Year".[3] In 1973, Flood moved to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp and became a professional naturalist and environmentalist.

Dick Flood
Birth nameRichard Flood
Also known asOkefenokee Joe
Born(1932-11-13)November 13, 1932
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 9, 2023(2023-01-09) (aged 90)
Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, entertainer, environmentalist

In 1981, Flood changed his name to Okefenokee Joe, and in 1989 he hosted and narrated the Emmy award-winning documentary Swampwise on Georgia Public Broadcasting.[4]

Early life

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Richard Flood was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States,[1] and began playing music while working as a counselor at a YMCA summer camp in the Blue Mountains. After the campers were in bed, he would practice guitar and perform for his fellow counselors.

Career in music

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Military tours

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After serving in Korea with the U.S. Army, Flood organized his first country music band, The Luzon Valley Boys. During this time he also began writing songs, some of which were performed by the band. The Luzon Valley Boys played at the various military clubs on Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands. On one occasion they performed for the Philippine president, Ramon Magsaysay.[5]

The Jimmy Dean Show

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A few years later, Flood and army buddy, Billy Graves, auditioned for The Jimmy Dean Show.[1] Dean asked them to perform together, so they formed the duo The Country Lads.[1] In 1956, The Country Lads were given a regular spot on The Jimmy Dean Show, which aired on CBS every weekday morning. Like most of the Jimmy Dean Show performers, The Country Lads participated in a USO tour of Europe and Africa. In 1957 the Country Lads signed a contract with Columbia Records and released the single, “Alone In Love”/“I Won’t Beg Your Pardon” (Columbia #4-41062) and in 1958 they released the record “Anything”/”Lonely Lover” (Columbia #4-41212).[6] The Country Lads remained on the Jimmy Dean show for three years until 1958 when the show ended.

Performing in Nashville

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The Country Lads split up in 1958, and in 1959 Flood moved to Nashville to pitch his songs to the popular recording artists he had met on The Jimmy Dean Show. His preference was for songwriting, but his work as singer and entertainer was more profitable. While in Nashville, Flood landed a spot on the radio show Ernest Tubb Record Shop, and from there earned a spot performing on Friday Night Frolics (a Friday night spin-off of the Grand Ole Opry). In 1960–61, Flood was invited to sing almost every Saturday night for the Grand Ole Opry.[7]

Recording artist

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In addition to songwriting, Flood also found success as a recording artist. In 1959, he recorded a cover version of The Browns' song "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)",[1] which was released almost a month after The Browns' version was released (RCA Victor #47-7555).[8] Both versions found simultaneous success on the charts with The Browns' version reaching number one,[9] and Flood's peaking at number 23.[10] His follow-up singles at Monument, “It Only Costs A Dime” (Monument #45-414) and “Cowpoke,” (Monument #45-427-V) received little airplay.

In October 1961, his single "The Hellbound Train" / "Judy Lynn" was released on Epic Records (Epic #5-9479). Each year, Columbia Records held a disc jockey convention in Nashville and invited disc jockeys from across the US to listen to Columbia artists perform their newly released music. Flood sang "The Hell Bound Train," and received considerable praise from his audience. However, because the lyrics included references to drunkenness, hell, and the devil, the song was banned from radio stations. It received little exposure and failed to chart.

In 1962, he released the single "King or a Clown" / "Never Has So Much Been Lost (In Just a Little While)" (Epic #5-9500). The same year he was voted by Cashbox as the “Most Up and Coming Male Vocalist in Country Music.”[11] Flood also recorded the song "I'll See You to the Door" with Epic Records, but to Flood's dismay, they never released it. (In 2015 it was released on the album One Bright Morning by Fervor Records).

Dick Flood and the Pathfinders

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In 1964, Flood organized a three piece group named Dick Flood and the Pathfinders. In addition to recording and performing in the U.S., the band also toured the military club circuit. They visited Okinawa, Guam, The Philippines, and Vietnam. While on tour, Flood contracted Dengue Fever and became seriously ill. It took several years for him to fully recover.

When he returned to the U.S., Flood created his own music label, Totem Records. In 1967, Totem Records released two songs "Miung Sun Lee" / "Willow In The Wind" (Totem T-1). During 1968–1971, he had one single released on Nasco Records, entitled "Slow It Down" (written by Kris Kristofferson) / "Speak My Name" (written by Flood) (Nasco 025),[12] and another release on Nugget Records, "Woman Leave Me Alone" / "Home Was Never Like This" (Nugget NR-1026). None of these songs did well in the charts and Flood was becoming discouraged.

Songwriting and major label success

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In 1958, Flood and Fred Foster co-wrote the Billy Graves' single "The Shag (Is Totally Cool)" (Monument Records -#45-MN.401) which reached number 53 on Billboard's Hot 100.[13] Due to the song's success, Billy Graves was invited to tour with Dick Clark.

In 1959, Flood's song "Gee" was recorded by George Hamilton IV and released on his album Gee! (Hilltop JS-6161) as well as on his single "Gee" / "I Know Your Sweetheart" (ABC-Paramount 45–10028).[14] "Gee" hit number 73 on the US charts.[15]

In 1960, Roy Orbison recorded Flood's song "Here Comes That Song Again" for Orbison's album Lonely and Blue (Monument M 4002). The song was also released on Orbison's single "Only the Lonely" / "Here Comes that Song Again" (Monument #45-421).

In 1961, Anita Bryant recorded Flood's song "Cold, Cold Winter" on her single "Cold, Cold Winter" / "Step By Step, Little By Little" (Columbia #4-42257). It was later released on her 1963 album Anita Bryant's Greatest Hits (Columbia CS-8756).

In 1962, "Trouble's Back in Town" (Decca Records DL 4391)[16] was recorded by The Wilburn Brothers and made it to number 3 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart, and number 4 on the US Country charts.[17] It was also named Cashbox Magazine's Country Song of the Year.

Flood's songs were often found on the B-side of popular singles, such as "Only the Lonely" by Roy Orbison, and Billy Grammer's "Gotta' Travel On" / "Chasing a Dream" (Monument #45-400)[18] which led his friends in the music business to nickname him ‘Flip Side Flood’.

Life as Okefenokee Joe

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Environmentalist

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In 1973, Flood's second marriage was ending and his music career was struggling. Flood decided to leave it all behind and move to Georgia.[19] He camped alone for four months until he found a job as the animal curator of the Okefenokee Swamp. For eight years he lived on the northern edge of Cowhouse Island. In 1976 he met Cindy Yeomans, who would become his third wife. After the wedding, the couple moved to Odum, Georgia.

In 1981, Flood changed his name to Okefenokee Joe. He became an expert on wildlife and ecology and began to teach lessons through his ballads and wildlife demonstrations.

Okefenokee Joe, an 11-foot-long alligator, named after him, lived and dominated in the Okefenokee Swamp, died at almost 80, in 2021.[20]

TV host and narrator

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In the late 1980s, he narrated and hosted two documentaries Swampwise[21] and The Joy of Snakes..[22] He also created a DVD field guide Know Your Snakes – Venomous Snakes of the Southeastern United States.[23] Beginning in 1991 he made several appearances on the Georgia Outdoor series produced by Georgia Public Broadcasting.[24][25] He speaks and performs for schools, libraries, and seminars.[26][27]

Legacy

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In November 2015, Flood was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.[28][29] In recent years, Flood has worked with Fervor Records to release many of his previously unreleased recordings. The independent music label has also placed his music in television and film. Flood also owns his own record label, Cowhouse Island Records, and continues to write and record songs and albums about nature, simple living, and his faith.[5]

Personal life and death

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Dick Flood had 5 boys and was the step father to 2 girls. He died in Augusta, Georgia, on January 9, 2023, at age 90.[30][31][32]

Discography

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Performing Artist Title (Format) Label Cat# Country Year
The Country Lads Alone in Love/I Won't Beg Your Pardon Columbia 4-41062-c US 1957
Lonely Lover/Anything (7", Single) Columbia 4-412 US 1958
Lonely Lover/Anything (7", Single) Columbia 4-41212 US 1958
Billy Graves The Shag (Is Totally Cool) (Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single Monument 45-401 US 1958
The Shag (Is Totally Cool)/ Uncertain (7", Single) Monument 45-401 US 1958
The Shag/ Uncertain (7", Single) Monument 45 MN. 401 Canada 1958
The Shag/ Uncertain (7", Single) Monument 45-401 US 1958
The Shag/ Uncertain (7", Single) Monument 45-401 US 1958
Kathy Linden Allentown Jail/ That's What Love Is (7") Monument 45-420 US 1960[33]
That's What Love Is (CD, Compilation, Remastered) Golden Sandy Records GSR-90127 1994
George Hamilton IV Gee/I Know Your Sweetheart (Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Promo) ABC-Paramount 45-10,028 US 1959
Gee/I Know Your Sweetheart (7", Single) ABC- Paramount 45-10,028 US 1959
Gee! (Vinyl, LP, Album) Hilltop JS-6161 US 1975
Gee! (Vinyl, LP, Album) Hilltop JS-6161 Canada 1975
Roy Orbison OnlyThe Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) / Here Comes that Song Again (7") London Records 45-HL-1671 Australia 1960
Only The Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) / Here Comes that Song Again (7", Single, Mono) London Records, London American Recordings FLX 3133 Netherlands 1960
OnlyThe Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)/Here Comes that Song Again (7", Single) London Records 9.5.190 unknown 1960
Only the Lonely / Here Comes That Song Again (7", Single) London American Recordings 45-HL-U 9149 UK 1960
Lonely and Blue (Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono) Doxy Music DOK 314 Russia 2012
Lonely and Blue (CD, Album, Ltd, RE, Pap) Monument SICP 3113 Japan 2011
Lonely and Blue (CD, Album, Reissue) Monument, Legacy 82876855722 Europe 2006
Lonely and Blue (CD, Reissue) Monument, Legacy M 4002, 8287685572 2 US 2006
Anita Bryant Cold, Cold Winter/Step By Step, Little By Little (Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single) Columbia 4-42257 US 1961
Cold, Cold Winter (7", Single) Philips PB.1214 UK 1961
Anita Bryant's Greatest Hits (Vinyl, LP, Compilation) Columbia CS 8756 US 1963
Anita Bryant's Greatest Hits ( LP, Compilation, Mono) Columbia CL 1956 US 1963
Anita Bryant's Greatest Hits (LP, Compilation) Columbia CS 8756 Canada 1963
Anita Bryant's Greatest Hits ( LP, Compilation, Mono, Promo) Columbia CL 1956 US 1963
The Wilburn Brothers Trouble's Back In Town (Vinyl, LP, Mono) Decca DL 4391 US 1963
Trouble's Back In Town (LP) Decca DL 74391 US 1963
Trouble's Back In Town (LP, Mono) Brunswick LAT 8555 UK 1963
Trouble's Back In Town- The Hits of the Wilburn Brothers (CD, Compilation) Edsel (subsidiary of Demon Music Group) EDCD 540 UK 1998
Dick Flood Far Away/The Three Bells (7") Felstead Music Corp. 45-AF. 125 Finland 1959
Monument 45-408 US 1959
London Records 45-AF 125 Denmark Unknown
It's My Way/It Only Cost a Dime (7") Monument 45-414 US 1960
Cowpoke/Carita Monument 45-427-V US 1960
Judy Lynn/ Hellbound Train (7", Promo) Epic Records 5-9479 US 1961
King or a Clown/Never Has So Much Been Lost (In Just a Little While)(7") Epic 5-9500 US 1962
Another Stretch of Track/(Someone Was Standing) Outside Your Door (7", Single) Epic Records 5-9556 US 1962
(Same Old Crazy Me) Same Old Cheatin' You (7") Nugget Records NR-2200 US 1964
I Need All the Friends I Can Find/These Things Make a Heartache (7") Kapp Records K-640 US 1965
Woman Leave Me Alone/Home Was Never Like This (7", Promo) Nugget NR-1026 US 1968
The Best of Dick Flood 1961-1967 Fervor Records FVRCD06201 US 2014
One Bright Morning Fervor Records FVRCD06211 US 2015
The Incomparable Dick Flood Fervor Records FVRCD06203 US 2015
Up Close and Personal Fervor Records FVRCD06204 US 2007
The Way it Used to Be Black Water Music Company US 2014
Cowpoke (Remastered, Single) Bacci Bros Records UK 2015
It's My Way (Remastered, Single) Bacci Bros Records UK 2015
Slow it Down/Speak My Name Nasco Records 025 US 1972
Dick Flood and the Pathfinders Between Two Worlds/From Warm to Cool to Cold Kapp K-681 US 1965
Trouble's Back In Town/Don't Sweetheart Me (7", Single, Promo) Kapp Records K-754 US 1966
Willow in the Wind/Miung Sung Lee (7") Totem T-1 US 1967
Sure Gets Dark/I Didn't See You Standing There (7", Single, 45 RPM,Vinyl) Totem T-7, T-8 US Unknown
Various Hillbillies in Hell (Vinyl, LP, Album, Compilation, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Remastered, Internal Red) The Omni Recording Corporation, The Iron Mountain Analogue Research Facility IMAR-109LP Australia 2017

[34]

TV and film

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Artist Name Song Title Show Title Episode Program Production Air Date
Dick Flood "Everything Happens for the Best" Last Man on Earth 212 TV Fox 3/13/2016
Big Tips Texas -- TV MTV 12/1/2013
Rachel Zoe Project 401 TV Bravo 9/6/2011
Saddle Ranch 104 TV VH1 5/8/2011
Preacher 104 TV AMC 6/19/2016
Preacher 105 TV AMC 6/26/2016
"Looking Around" Aquarius 106 TV NBC 6/25/2015
"A Fool For Loving You" 11-22-63 107 Hulu 3/21/2016
"Willow in the Wind" The Astronaut Wives Club 108 TV ABC 8/6/2015
"Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" The Astronaut Wives Club 107 TV ABC 7/30/2015
Van Helsing 209 TV SyFy 12/7/17
"Warning Signs" Children's Hospital 612 TV Adult Swim 6/6/2015
The Frontier Film Independent 4/18/2015
The Good Wife 604 TV CBS 10/12/2014
The Leftovers 301 TV HBO 4/16/2017
"I'll See You to the Door" iZombie 201 TV The CW 10/5/2015
"Without Your Love" The Astronaut Wives Club 105 TV ABC 7/16/2015
"Livin' in the Lonely Zone" The Driftless Area Film Independent 4/18/2015
Preacher 102 TV AMC 6/5/2016
"Listen to Me Self" The Leftovers 209 TV HBO 11/29/2015
"Home Was Never Like This" Katie Says Goodbye Film Independent 9/11/2016
"Blue Blue Party" Preacher 105 TV AMC 6/26/2016
Preacher 106 TV AMC 7/6/2016
"I'll Never Be the Same After You" Wynonna Earp 207 TV SyFy 7/21/2017
"Out of Sight Out of Mind" The Man in the High Castle 102 Amazon 10/23/2015
SMILF 107 TV Showtime 12/17/17
"Run For Your Life" Preacher 108 TV AMC 7/17/2016
"Sure Gets Dark When the Sun Goes Down" Preacher 102 TV AMC 6/5/2016
Aquarius 207 TV NBC 7/14/2016
"I'm Going Home" This is Us 211 TV NBC 1/9/18
"A Place Called Happiness" Van Helsing 211 TV SyFy 12/21/17
Dick Flood and The Pathfinders "I Didn't See You Standing There" I'm Dying Up Here 106 TV Showtime 7/16/2017
"Jammin' the Blues" The Astronaut Wives Club 104 TV ABC 7/9/2015

[35][36]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 880. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ "Richard Dick (Okefenokee Joe) Flood November 13, 1932 ~ January 9, 2023 (age 90)". folkfuneralhome.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  3. ^ "MY STORY". Monroelocal.org. 21 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Swampwise". Georgia Public Broadcasting. 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  5. ^ a b "The Ballad of Okefenokee Joe | Holistic Storyteller". www.holisticstoryteller.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  6. ^ "The Country Lads - Anything". 45cat.com.
  7. ^ "7 Jun 1961, Page 12 - The Tennessean at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Dick Flood - The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)". 45cat.com.
  9. ^ "The Browns The Three Bells Chart History". Billboard.com.
  10. ^ "Dick Flood The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story) Chart History". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018.
  11. ^ "Okefenokee Joe was once songwriter Dick Flood". Chronicle.augusta.com.
  12. ^ "Dick Flood - Slow It Down". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  13. ^ "Billy Graves Chart History". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018.
  14. ^ "George Hamilton IV - Gee". 45cat.com.
  15. ^ "George Hamilton IV Gee Chart History". Billboard.com.
  16. ^ "The Wilburn Brothers - Trouble's Back In Town". Discogs.
  17. ^ "Wilburn Brothers Chart History". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018.
  18. ^ "Billy Grammer - Gotta Travel On / Chasing A Dream". Discogs.
  19. ^ "Singer teaches with snakes". Chronicle.augusta.com.
  20. ^ Paúl, María Luisa (September 11, 2021). "Okefenokee Joe, 'an amazing old' alligator named after a Georgia singer, has died". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  21. ^ "Digital Library". Gpb.org. 9 November 2007.
  22. ^ "Archived copy". www.afternic.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ "Okefenokee Joe the Snake Educator". Grit.com.
  24. ^ Fallows, Deborah (14 April 2014). "Swampwise!". Theatlantic.com.
  25. ^ "Swamp Wise / The Okefenokee Swamp". CNN iReport.
  26. ^ [1] [dead link]
  27. ^ [2] [dead link]
  28. ^ [3] [dead link]
  29. ^ "Ramblin' Rhodes: Augusta's rich musical tradition finally being noticed". Chronicle.augusta.com.
  30. ^ "Georgia's own Okefenokee Joe dies in Augusta at 90". 11 January 2023.|title=Georgia’s own Okefenokee Joe dies in Augusta at 90.
  31. ^ "RIP Okefenokee Joe". The Advance. January 18, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  32. ^ "Remembering GPB TV documentarian Okefenokee Joe". GBP News. January 10, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  33. ^ "Kathy Linden - Allentown Jail". 45cat.com. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Dick Flood Discography - USA - 45cat". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  35. ^ "Music by Dick Flood". Tunefind.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  36. ^ "Music by Dick Flood & The Pathfinders". Tunefind.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
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