Dick Flood may be best remembered by oldies music fans as the man behind the 1959 version of “The Three Bells.” Though he achieved only fleeting fame as a recording artist, Flood left a deeper mark in the music world through his work as a country songwriter and his presence on national television. Over time, he would reinvent himself as a nature educator and singer under the name Okefenokee Joe, showing a unique ability to adapt, create, and inspire across multiple phases of his life.
Early Life and Musical Roots
Born Richard Flood on November 13, 1932, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Flood developed a love for country music at a young age. He spent much of his youth exploring the wilderness and woods of Pennsylvania, where he worked as a YMCA summer camp counselor. It was there, deep in the mountains, that he began practicing guitar and singing before campfires—a setting that would later foreshadow his return to nature as Okefenokee Joe.
Influenced by early country legends such as Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Carl Smith, and Kitty Wells, Flood gradually honed a musical style grounded in heartfelt storytelling and folk roots.
Military Service and Early Career
Flood was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Korea and the Philippines. While overseas, he continued to perform, forming a band and entertaining troops at military clubs. After his discharge, he returned home to Philadelphia and pursued music more seriously. He briefly joined a group called The Four Denims, but the lineup never clicked and the band soon disbanded.
The Country Lads and The Jimmy Dean Show
A significant breakthrough came when Flood reunited with Billy Graves, a fellow soldier and musician. Together they formed the Country Lads, a country duo that got their big break in 1956 when they were hired as regular performers on The Jimmy Dean Show, which aired on CBS television.
The exposure led to a recording contract with Columbia Records, and the Country Lads released a pair of singles: “Alone in Love” and “I Won’t Beg Your Pardon” in 1957. While neither song was a commercial hit, the duo built a loyal following.
When The Jimmy Dean Show was canceled after a three-year run, the Country Lads amicably disbanded. Flood and Graves remained close friends, continuing to collaborate occasionally in the years ahead.
Flood’s Solo Breakthrough with Monument Records
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Following his television run, Flood began focusing more on his songwriting. He developed a friendship with Fred Foster, founder of Monument Records, and became one of the label’s early investors and songwriters.
Flood penned songs that were recorded by rising stars like Roy Orbison, Billy Grammer, and Kathy Linden. He also wrote “Trouble’s Back in Town”, which became a Top 10 country hit for the Wilburn Brothers in 1962.
In 1959, Flood recorded his own version of “The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Song),” an English adaptation of the French ballad “Les Trois Cloches” written by Jean Villard Gilles and Marc Herrand, with English lyrics by Bert Reisfeld.
Unfortunately, his version came out just weeks after the Browns’ rendition of the same song. While Flood’s version peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100, it was significantly overshadowed by the Browns’ smash hit, which reached #1 on the country and pop charts.
Though Flood’s rendition was artistically well received, its commercial impact was dulled by competition. The single was also released in the UK, but again, competing versions prevented it from charting overseas.
A Songwriter First
Though “The Three Bells” was his only major hit as a recording artist, Flood wasn’t deterred. He had always seen himself primarily as a songwriter. His work continued to appear on albums by established acts, including:
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Anita Bryant – “Cold, Cold Winter”
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George Hamilton IV – “Gee”
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The Wilburn Brothers – “Trouble’s Back in Town”
Flood also wrote for his former partner Billy Graves, maintaining a creative relationship that lasted well beyond their days on television.
Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry
After selling his stake in Monument Records, Flood moved to Nashville, where he remained active in the industry. He was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, one of country music’s most hallowed stages.
He released “Hell Bound Train” on Columbia in 1961, a hard-hitting song with controversial lyrics that led to it being banned by some radio stations. Other singles followed, including “King or a Clown” and “Another Stretch of the Track,” though none replicated the success of “The Three Bells.”
Flood recorded briefly with the Kapp label and later formed his own short-lived label, Totem Records. He continued to release songs sporadically through smaller outfits such as Nasco and Nugget Records.
Life Beyond the Charts
Even as commercial success eluded him, Flood remained active. He traveled the world performing for U.S. military personnel, giving back to the audience that had supported him in his early days.
Eventually, Flood withdrew from the mainstream music business and relocated to the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia, a move that would lead to the next chapter of his fascinating life.
The Reinvention of Dick Flood: Meet Okefenokee Joe
In Georgia, Flood underwent a dramatic personal transformation. He adopted the moniker Okefenokee Joe and began a second career as a naturalist, environmental educator, and wildlife expert. As Joe, he combined his love for storytelling and music with his passion for nature.
He began producing educational content for schools and television, including the Emmy-winning Georgia Public Broadcasting special “Swampwise.” Through his outreach work, Okefenokee Joe became beloved by a new generation—not as a country singer, but as a swamp-dwelling teacher of ecology and conservation.
Even in his nature work, Joe never fully let go of music. He continued to write and perform nature-themed songs and folk ballads, keeping the spirit of his early musical roots alive.
Legacy of a Multifaceted Artist
Dick Flood’s life journey—from 1950s pop stardom to Nashville songwriter to wilderness educator—is a remarkable tale of reinvention. Though he was technically a one-hit wonder on the charts, his impact goes far beyond that label.
He helped shape the early sound of Monument Records, contributed to the country music canon with multiple enduring songs, and later, brought environmental education to life through music and storytelling.
Now living a quieter life in Georgia, Okefenokee Joe remains an example of how creativity, adaptability, and passion can lead to a fulfilling life well beyond the spotlight.