<P> `` Ode to Billie Joe '' is a 1967 song written and recorded by Bobbie Gentry , a singer - songwriter from Chickasaw County , Mississippi . The single , released in late July , was a number - one hit in the United States , and became a big international seller . Billboard ranked the record as the No. 3 song for 1967 ( the other two were # 2 `` The Letter '' by the Box Tops and # 1 `` To Sir With Love '' by Lulu ) . The song is ranked # 412 on Rolling Stone 's list of `` the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' . The recording of `` Ode to Billie Joe '' generated eight Grammy nominations , resulting in three wins for Gentry and one win for arranger Jimmie Haskell . </P>
<P> `` Ode to Billie Joe '' is a 1967 song written and recorded by Bobbie Gentry , a singer - songwriter from Chickasaw County , Mississippi . The single , released in late July , was a number - one hit in the United States , and became a big international seller . Billboard ranked the record as the No. 3 song for 1967 ( the other two were # 2 `` The Letter '' by the Box Tops and # 1 `` To Sir With Love '' by Lulu ) . The song is ranked # 412 on Rolling Stone 's list of `` the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time '' . The recording of `` Ode to Billie Joe '' generated eight Grammy nominations , resulting in three wins for Gentry and one win for arranger Jimmie Haskell . </P>
who sang the original ode to billy joe
who sang the original ode to billy joe
Bobbie Gentry
Bobbie Gentry