Del Wood, born Polly Adelaide Hendricks Hazelwood on February 22, 1920, in Nashville, Tennessee, was an American queen of ragtime piano. Her spirited playing style and mastery of the keys earned her the affectionate title "Queen of the Ragtime Piano." Wood gained national recognition with her 1951 hit "Down Yonder," which catapulted her into the spotlight and earned her a gold record for its immense popularity.

Throughout her career, Del Wood remained a vibrant figure in the ragtime and honky-tonk music scenes. Her albums, including "Good Time Ragtime," "More Favorites," and "Upright, Low Down and Honky Tonk," showcased her versatility and her ability to inject a sense of fun and nostalgia into her music. She had a knack for blending the down-home charm of Southern music with the intricate rhythms of ragtime, which resonated with audiences across the country. Del Wood's music was often characterized by its toe-tapping rhythms and her infectious energy on the keys. She passed away on October 3, 1989, but left a legacy as a pioneering female artist in the ragtime genre, inspiring many with her dynamic performances and distinctive sound.