On August 5, 1967, Bobbie Gentry leapt into our communal consciousness with an unforgettable piece of songwriting paired with a uniquely compelling performance. “Ode to Billie Joe” was a startling example of the songwriter as a moving storyteller, painting a picture that you are unable to get out of your mind. That August day some 53 years ago is when the song first charted on the Billboard Hot 100, and here is Bobbie with--as we said on her birthday—her signature work. Bobbie Gentry Fans * The