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Patsy Cline

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Template:Infobox musical artist 2 Patsy Cline (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer, who enjoyed pop music cross-over success during the era of the Nashville Sound in the early 1960‘s. Since her untimely death in a 1963 plane crash Cline has been hailed by fans, colleagues and music critics alike as one of the most influential and unique vocalists of the 20th century, and certainly one of the best selling.

Early Years

Born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932, in Winchester, Virginia, she was the daughter of Sam and Hilda Hensley, a blacksmith and a seamstress. She was the eldest of three children, which included a brother, Sam, and a sister, Sylvia. With dreams of stardom since an early age, Cline often proclaimed as a child that she would one day be famous and looked up to stars such as Judy Garland and Shirley Temple. A serious illness as a child caused a throat infection which, according to Cline, resulted in her gift of "a voice that boomed like Kate Smith's". Cline was well rounded in her musical tastes and credited everyone from Kay Starr to Hank Williams for influencing her. During her early years of childhood, she often sang in church with her mother.

Cline began performing in area variety/talent shows early on and then, as she grew older, began to play popular nightclubs. To support her family after her father abandoned them, she worked various jobs such as that of a soda jerk and waitress by day, while she sang in clubs at night. Her mother, Hilda, a gifted seamstress who practiced her craft until her own death in 1998, made Cline's famous western onstage outfits. During this time, she met two men who would be responsible for changing her name: she married contractor Gearld Cline in 1953 (whom she later divorced) and was given the name "Patsy" by her new manager, Bill Peer. Numerous appearances on local radio followed and she created quite a following for herself in the Virginia/Maryland area, especially when Jimmy Dean learned of her and she became a regular on Connie B. Gay's "Town and Country" television show, which was broadcasted out of Washington, D.C.

In 1955 she was signed to Four Star Records, but her contract greatly limited her to the material that she could record, stating that she could only record compositions written by Four Star writers. Her first record for Four Star was "A Church A Courtroom And Then Good-Bye". The song sparked little attention, although it did allow her to make several appearances on The Grand Ole Opry. During her contract she recorded 51 songs for Four Star.

Rise to fame & stardom

1957 was a year of great change in Cline's life. Not only did she marry the man she called the love of her life, Charlie Dick, but she skyrocketed to fame when she appeared on the nationally televised "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" program on January 21, 1957. She sang a pop tune, "Walkin' After Midnight" and won. The song became an instant hit and her first album, "Patsy Cline" was released. After the birth of daughter Julie in 1958, she moved to Nashville, TN.

File:Patsy3.jpg
Patsy Cline publicity photo; 1957

When her contract expired with Four Star Records in 1960, she signed on with Decca Records-Nashville, under the direction of legendary Nashville Sound producer, Owen Bradley. Bradley was not only responsible for much of Cline's recording career's success, but also for the success of Brenda Lee and Loretta Lynn. With Bradley's direction, Cline enjoyed country and pop music success not only because of her versatile vocal ability, but also Bradley's arrangements and incorporation of instruments not typically used on Country records, such as strings. This style became known as “The Nashville Sound“, founded by Bradley and RCA’s Chet Atkins, who produced Jim Reeves, Skeeter Davis and Eddy Arnold.

She also hired a new manager/promoter, Randy Hughes. Perhaps her greatest accomplishments of 1961 was her #1 hit "I Fall to Pieces" and membership to The Grand Ole Opry as a permanent performer, the realization of her lifelong dream. Cline also befriended and encouraged many women starting out in Country Music during this time, including Dottie West, Loretta Lynn, Jan Howard and Brenda Lee.

While 1961 brought the birth of son Randy, on June 14, Patsy and her brother were involved in a head-on car collision. The impact of the accident threw Patsy through the windshield, nearly killing her. Upon arriving at the scene, singer Dottie West picked the glass from Patsy's hair and Patsy insisted that the driver from the other car be treated before her (Ironically, West would suffer the same fate in 1991, but did not survive). Patsy later stated that she saw the other woman die before her eyes at the hospital. Suffering from a jagged cut across her forehead that required stitches, a broken wrist, and a dislocated hip, she spent a month in the hospital. When she left the hospital, her forehead was still visibly scarred. For the remainder of her career, she wore wigs to hide the scars and headbands to relieve pressure on her forehead. She returned to the road on crutches.

Due to her determination, outspoken nature, strong will and a self confidence in herself that was a rare trait for women in Country Music at that time, Cline was the first female in the industry to prove that she could outsell her male competitors in record sales and concert tickets. With this, she headlined Carnegie Hall with fellow Opry members, The Hollywood Bowl with Johnny Cash and eventually her own show in Las Vegas in 1962. Cline is often considered a "heroine" by her contemporaries, who claim that she broke down doors in the industry for women. Cline also reinvented her style by shedding her Western yoked cowgirl outfits for elegant sequined gowns, cocktail dresses and spiked heels. Cline's trend in style was mocked at first by many, then quickly copied. Reportedly, she was being paid at least one grand for her concert appearances towards the end of her life, which was unheard of for women of her time.

After "I Fall to Pieces", other chart toppers of Cline's recording career included the hits "Crazy" by Willie Nelson, "She's Got You" by Hank Cochran, "Sweet Dreams" by Don Gibson and "Leavin On Your Mind". Cline recorded 51 songs for Decca from 1960-1963 and released two more albums during her lifetime: "Showcase With the Jordanaires" (1961) and "Sentimentally Yours" (1962). Other albums of unreleased material followed posthumously, starting with "The Patsy Cline Story" in Summer of 1963. All of these tracks were produced by Owen Bradley and the majority of them featured the legendary back-up vocal group "The Jordnaires", who also appeared on many of Elvis Presley's albums.

File:Showcase With the Jordanaires 2.jpg
Patsy Cline's 1961 Album Showcase With the Jordanaires.

During her short career of only five and a half years, Patsy Cline was awarded 12 prestigious awards (Including the Music Reporters "1962 Star of The Year") for her achievements in music and three more following her death. Most of these were Cashbox, Music Reporter and Billboard Awards, which were considered high honors during her time. Awards such as The Grammy's and CMA's weren't in existence until after her death.

Tragic Death

In the months leading up to her death, Cline confided in her closest friends (June Carter and Dottie West namely) that she felt a sense of impending doom and suspected that she wasn't going to live much longer. On March 3, 1963, Patsy gave her last concert at a benefit show in Kansas City for the family of a disc jockey who'd recently died. On the bill with her was Billy Walker, Dottie West, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, to name a few. Patsy boarded a private plane bound for Nashville, flown by her manager Randy Hughes, along with stars Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins. After stopping to refuel in Dyersburg, TN, the plane flew into severe weather and crashed at 6:07PM on March 5, 1963 in a forest just outside of Camden, TN. There were no survivors. Patsy Cline was only 30 years old.

Nashville was in shock over the losses. Patsy Cline's memorial service was attended by thousands. Hours later, news that singer Jack Anglin had died on the way to her service surfaced. She was buried in her hometown of Winchester, VA. A simple bronze plaque marks her grave, reading "Death Cannot Kill What Never Dies: Love". A memorial marks the place where the plane crashed outside of Camden, TN.

Legacy: 1963 - present

As the 60’s and early 70’s moved on, MCA (new owner of Cline’s former label, “Decca") continued to issue Patsy Cline albums and Cline had several posthumous hits. Her "Greatest Hits” album, continues to appear on the Country Music charts to this day. It held the record as being the album to stay on the Country Charts the longest until Garth Brooks surpassed it in the 1990's, but still remains the longest by any female artist of any genre.

In 1973, Cline was elected to The Country Music Hall of Fame along with guitarist Chet Atkins, making her the first female solo artist in Country Music history to receive that honor.

By the late 70’s, Cline’s name occasionally would appear in magazine articles and television interviews by her friends, namely Dottie West and Loretta Lynn, who greatly credited her for inspiration. However, it was a series of interviews with Loretta Lynn by writer/author Ellis Nassour that ultimately led Nassour to write a magazine article memorializing Cline’s 40’s birthday. Later, Loretta Lynn published her biography, “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, which featured a chapter dedicated to her friendship with Cline, and recorded a tribute album "I Remember Patsy..." Lynn’s bio pic by the same name followed featuring actress Beverly D’Angelo (who used her own voice) as Cline and actress Sissy Spacek as Lynn. Public interest in Patsy Cline began to rise again. Ellis Nassour went on to write the first Patsy Cline biography, Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline after his series of interviews with Cline’s family and friends. Since Nassour's publication, many other authors have gone on to write bios on Cline.

In 1985, HBO/Tri Star Pictures produced “Sweet Dreams: The Life and Times of Patsy Cline”, starring actress Jessica Lange lip synching as Cline, and actor Ed Harris as Cline’s husband, Charlie Dick. The film depicted their relationship, although Cline’s family claimed that much of the film was inaccurately dramatized/fictionalized for Hollywood, including the plane crash which was depicted as crashing into a mountain in the film. Lange was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Cline. The soundtrack to the film was a great success and Patsy Cline’s discography began to climb the record charts again, where it has remained since her death.

Cline’s family has produced a series of videos/documentaries since “Sweet Dreams” including “The Real Patsy Cline”, “Remembering Patsy” and most recently “Sweet Dreams Still: The Live Collection”.

In 1992 the U.S. Postal Service honored her, along with Hank Williams, on a U.S. Postal Stamp and in 1995 she was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award along with Barbra Streisand and Peggy Lee.

That same year, MCA released a 4 CD/Cassette Collection of her discography, called “The Patsy Cline Collection”. This boxed set, which includes a booklet chronicling Cline's career with many rare photos, remains one of the top 10 selling boxed collections in the record industry.

In 1993, the musical play “Always…Patsy Cline” premiered, produced by Ted Swidley. The play features the story of a real life fan who met Cline backstage and the friendship that remained until Cline’s death. The play was conceived through Ellis Nassour’s early biography on Cline and his interviews with the fan that the play is based on. Other plays based on Cline have followed: “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline” and “Patsy!”

Her recording of “Crazy” was also named the #1 Jukebox Hit of All Time, along with “I Fall to Pieces at # 17 in 1997.

With the nomination of author Ellis Nassour she became a member of the Texas Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

In 1998 she was nominated to The Hollywood Walk of Fame by a dedicated fan and a street was named after her on the back lot of Universal Studios in 1999.

Cline was portrayed on film again in the 1995 CBS bio pic “Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story”, featuring Michele Lee as Dottie West and actress Tere Myers as Cline.

In 1999, VH1 named her #11 on its “100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll” and in 2002 CMT named her #1 on its “40 Greatest Women of Country Music”. She was also honored with the Nashville Golden Voice Award in its Legend Category that same year.

File:Greatest hits.jpg
Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits album that sold 10 million copies.

In December of 1998, Cline’s mother passed away at her home in Winchester, Virginia (her father had died years earlier in the 1950's). Patsy's husband, Charlie Dick, resides in Nashville where he has continued to be a well known member of the Country Music community, producing documentaries on Cline and other artists through his video production company. Daughter Julie joins him representing Cline’s estate at public functions and has four children of her own (one, Virginia, named for Cline, was killed ironically in an automobile accident in 1994) and one grandchild, making Patsy Cline a great grandmother. Son Randy was the drummer of a Nashville band and still resides in Nashville, although he keeps a low profile. After Cline’s Death, Charlie Dick married singer Jamie Ryan in 1965, but the two divorced a short time later due to Dick's dedicated love for Cline. The two share a son, Chip, who is married and has two sons.

Each year, fans from around the globe gather in Cline’s hometown of Winchester to pay homage to her during its labor day and memorial day events. Efforts to erect a museum in her honor there are still in the works. Cline is interned at Shenandoah Memorial Park in Winchester, VA, where a bell tower is erected in her memory.

In 2005 her album "Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits" was certified by the RIAA as Diamond, meaning it had reached sales of 10 million copies.

Also in 2005, Patsy Cline was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for her "Greatest Hits" album (first released in 1967) staying on the charts the longest of any female artist of any music genre.

Her career and musical influence has been cited as an inspiration by countless vocalists since her time, including Tammy Wynette, Cyndi Lauper, Marianne Faithful, Patti Smith, Dottie West, Barbara Mandrell, Michelle Branch, Amy Grant, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood and LeeAnn Rimes.

Perhaps the greatest testament to her legacy, aside from her discography of timeless classics, is a fan base that continues to grow throughout the years, spanning generations and continents.

Trivia

  • Patsy was a collector of salt and pepper shakers and loved dangly earrings.
  • Patsy was once asked to change her outfit at the Grand Ole Opry when she arrived clad in tight gold lame pants.
  • She had perfect pitch.
  • Patsy called many of her close friends "Hoss".
  • She played piano by ear.
  • Patsy moved into her dream home in Nashville only a few months before she died. The bathroom had gold dust sprinkled on the tile and the basement was used as a music room. She reportedly told Loretta Lynn "I'll never be happy until I have my Mama one just like it."
  • Producer Owen Bradley told TNN in an interview before his death that he had planned to cut an album of "standards" with Patsy before she died, including the song "Can't Help Loving That Man Of Mine".
  • Singer Dottie West paid homage to Patsy throughout her career, but particularly to Patsy's fashion style and feminisim in Country Music when she appread on the cover of her 1980 album "Wild West" clad in a scandelous cowgirl outfit she called an updated ode to Patsy, complete with holster guns, fringe and a cowgirl hat.
  • According to Grand Ole Opry officials, Patsy is the only member of the Opry, to date, to receive membership just by asking.
  • Patsy hated most of the musical material that made her famous, particularly the hits "I Fall to Pieces", "Crazy" and "Walkin' After Midnight", but liked them after they became hits for her.
  • Willie Nelson once stated that Patsy Cline's version of "Crazy" was his favorite version of any song of his that anybody had ever recorded.
  • Opry singer Billy Walker, who also appeared at Cline's last show, was supposed to fly back on the doomed plane with Cline, but traded his seat for Hawkshaw Hawkins' commercial airline ticket. Walker himself met a tragic end when he, his wife and several family members were killed in a 2005 automobile accident coming home from a concert.
  • Singer Barbara Mandrell talks of her touring with Cline as a child star in her biography "Get To The Heart: My Story". Barbara talks of how Patsy asked her to style her hair before shows and how Patsy insisted that she room with her on a tour that was headlined by Patsy, George Jones and Johnny Cash.
  • Famed Nashville Songwriter Harlan Howard, who wrote several hits for Cline including "I Fall to Pieces" with Hank Cochran, claimed that Patsy was so gifted vocally that she could have performed Opera had she set her mind to it.
  • Jessica Lange once stated that her role as Patsy Cline in the film Sweet Dreams was her all time favorite role because of Cline’s fascinating character.

Memorable Quotations

"Hoss, if you can't do it with feeling - don't." - Patsy on performing to friend Dottie West

"I don't want to get rich - just live good." - Patsy in a letter to her fan club president

"I had a hit out called "I Fall to Pieces" and I was in a car accident. Now I have a new record out and I'm really worried because it's called "Crazy"!" - Patsy introducing her newest hit to her concert audiences while on tour with Johnny Cash, George Jones and Barbara Mandrell

What Others Have Said

“It’s not like she’s a legend because she was in a plane crash - she was a GREAT singer.” - singer Crystal Gayle

“She set trends that will be followed for as long as there is good music. If they’re going to do it right, they have to do it the Patsy Cline way because she couldn’t be beat!” - Carl Perkins, legendary singer/songwriter

“All Patsy Cline had to do was sing anybody’s song and her version would outsell theirs because it would be so good” - George Jones, legendary Country Music icon

“Patsy Cline made Country Music hip and cool” - Maryanne Faithful, renowned British rocker

“Without Patsy Cline, I don’t think I would have lasted” - Loretta Lynn, legendary Country Music icon in her book “Coal Miner’s Daughter”.

“Patsy Cline? Larger than life!” - Reba McEntire, singer & actress

“She was the consummate artist and human being. I’m so thankful she was a part of my life” - Dottie West, legendary Country Music icon

“There was a lot of hurt in Patsy’s voice and a lot of deep love in her voice. And I think she portrayed that” - June Carter Cash, legendary Country Music icon

"I think people who may have not liked Country Music before her began to like that sound because she had this voice that was just heavenly! She was one of the first (in Nashville) to say "Hey, I'm a girl and I'm tough, don't mess with me - just let me sing and do my thing" - Dolly Parton, Country Music icon

(*quotes taken from "VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll", "CMT's 40 Greatest Women of Country", "The Real Patsy Cline" (VHS/DVD) & "Patsy Cline Remembered" (VHS/DVD))

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Singles

Further reading

  • Nicholas Dawidoff: In The Country of Country: A Journey to the Roots of American Music, Vintage Books, 1998, ISBN 0-375-70082-X
  • Nassour, Ellis. Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline (paperback edition ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-95158-2. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |origdate= ignored (|orig-date= suggested) (help)
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