Chris O’Dell to share rock experiences in campus talks

Chris O’Dell – who’s forever linked to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan – will share stories about her life with legendary rock performers at a presentation, hosted by HAIL! Fredonia Records, on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m., in Thompson Hall Room W101.

O’Dell is also scheduled to present a Women in Music Industry symposium, sponsored by the Fredonia Technology Incubator, the same day at noon in the Williams Center Horizon Room.

Both O’Dell programs are free and open to the public.

Ms. O’Dell worked in the rock music world for nearly two decades, from 1968 to 1984, as an assistant and tour manager – one of the first females in this role – for some of that era’s most influential musicians. She has appeared on television, radio and in print media to share stories of her years with The Beatles, The Stones and Apple Records.

O’Dell’s evening talk, “The Stories of Chris O’Dell’s Hard Days and Long Nights,” will offer insight into the music industry and management, said Christian Mootz, a senior Music Industry major from Roscoe. She’s also expected to focus on the Beatles’ impromptu rooftop concert at their Apple Corps headquarters in London, as seen in the 2021 “Get Back” documentary. It was the group’s final performance of their career.

According to Simon & Schuster, publisher of her 2009 memoir, “My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton,” Ms. O’Dell was in the studio when The Beatles recorded what became known as “The White Album,” as well as two more Beatles’ albums, “Abbey Road” and “Let It Be,” and sang in the “Hey Jude” chorus. She worked at the Beatles’ Apple Corps headquarters, beginning in 1968. O’Dell’s memoir, written with Katherine Ketcham, has been hailed as an intimate story of an ordinary woman who lived the dream of millions – to be part of rock royalty’s inner circle – and serves as a backstage pass to some of the most momentous events in rock history.