PATSY CLINE
G'day folks,
Here is something for you country music lovers. Patsy Cline was a celebrated country singer best known for
her crossover hits, including "Crazy" and "Walking After
Midnight."
Synopsis
Patsy
Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Winchester,
Virginia. Cline performed for nearly a decade before her breakthrough 1957
television appearance, singing "Walking After Midnight." She went on
to many crossover pop and country hits, including "Crazy" and
"She's Got You," becoming one of the leading Nashville figures before
her death in a plane crash in 1963, in Camden, Tennessee.
Country
music legend Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8,
1932, in Winchester, Virginia. She helped break down the gender barrier in this
musical genre. Known for her smooth-sounding, emotive voice, she started
performing at a young age. Her father Samuel was a blacksmith. Her mother Hilda
was only 16 years of age when she married Cline's father, who was more than 25
years older than his bride. The couple had three children together before
splitting up. Hilda became a seamstress to help support her family.
Cline
taught herself how to play piano around the age of 8. She later discovered her
passion for singing. When she was sixteen, Cline dropped out of school to go to
work. Her family desperately needed the money. She worked a number of places,
including a poultry plant and a local soda shop. In her free time, Cline
started her singing career. She performed on local radio stations and entered
numerous singing contests.
In 1952,
Cline began performing with bandleader Bill Peer's group. Peer encouraged her
to change her first name to "Patsy" for their performances. She
picked up the second part of her now famous moniker the following year after
marrying Gerald Cline. Cline landed a recording contract in 1954, but her first
few singles failed to catch on.
Cline's
career hit a turning point in 1957. She landed a spot on the Arthur
Godfrey's Talent Scouts show. Cline wowed audiences with her performance of
"Walkin' After Midnight," winning the program's competition. After
her appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, the song hit the
country and pop charts. Cline divorced her first husband around this time. She
soon married Charles Dick. The couple had two children together, daughter Julie
and son Randy.
Country Star
In the
early 1960s, Cline enjoyed great success on the country and pop charts. She also
joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee—a true sign of
her place in country music. Now with Decca Records, she released some of her
greatest hits. "I Fall to Pieces" hit the top of the country charts
in 1961. It also became a top 20 single on the pop charts. Chart success soon
struck again with the Willie Nelson-penned "Crazy." That same year,
Cline survived a traumatic car crash.
In 1962,
Cline again hit the number one spot on the country charts with "She's Got
You." She started performing with Johnny Cash around this time, joining
his tour. Cline performed with the likes of June Carter and George Jones during
this time. She was supportive of other female country artists, such as Loretta
Lynn, and she tried to help them with their careers.
Patsy
Cline's own career was all too brief. She died on March 5, 1963, in a plane
crash in Camden, Tennessee. After her death, the song "Sweet Dreams"
was released and became a hit. Considered one of country music's greatest
vocalists, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. Her
life became the subject of the 1985 film, Sweet Dreams, starring Jessica
Lange. Her music remains popular today with fans around the world. Some of her
fans even make the pilgrimage to her hometown of Winchester, Virginia, to visit
the Patsy Cline Historic Home.
Clancy's comment: She is still revered in Australia; not that I'm a big country fan. Interesting to count how many singers have been killed in a plane crash. Mm ...
I'm ...
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