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- Released as Patsy Cline (236)
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Patsy Cline
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Patsy Cline
Edit- Lifespan:
- September 8, 1932 - March 5, 1963, she died aged 30 and was American.
- Birthname:
- Virginia Patterson Hensley.
- Snapshot:
- An Artist with 236 releases, and credited 3 times on others' music. 18 collaborations.
Biography
EditAs it is with all those famous, talented people who die before their time, Patsy Cline's legend is more than it might have been had her fame and career faded slowly from our collective consciousness. Virginia Patterson Hensley's - she was nicknamed Patsy by her manger - career began in effect in 1957, six years before her tragic death, when Cline won a spot on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scout's television/radio program in New York City, and performed "Walkin' After Midnight". Cline became one of the first cross-over country artists when the song became a hit on both the country and pop charts of the day.
It wasn't until after Cline moved to Nashville and jumped labels and began working with legendary country producer Owen Bradley that Cline would have more hits. In 1961 Cline released "I Fall to Pieces" which also crossed-over reaching No.1 on the country charts and No.12 on the pop charts. She followed that up with a song written by journeyman songwriter Willie Nelson, "Crazy" which would also be a cross-over hit and ultimately considered her signature song.
Cline was also famous for opening doors in the country music community for women. She was "nobody's patsy" and no fainthearted little woman. Cline was a strong, intelligent woman who was in control of her own career. At that time it was common practice for concert promoters to promise to pay stars after the show then run out with the money during the concert but Cline wouldn't stand for that; she had a practice of her own called "No dough, no show". According to friend and musician Faron Young, "It was common knowledge around town that you didn't mess with 'The Cline'!"
In a career that was far too short, Cline managed to change the rules of country music, make it acceptable for women to be strong and independent, and broke down barriers for all music artists when it came to the kind of music they make. Her unique - for the time - combinations of pop and country made it possible for future artists like Crystal Gayle, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood to have pop-country cross-over success. Cline would release several more hits, most notably "Sweet Dreams" and "She's Got You" before her death, in plane crash at the age of 30, in 1963. Patsy Cline's career was marked by professional high points, mingled by personal low points, however short it was Cline is considered by many one of the most influential, revered and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century. Posthumously she has sold millions of albums despite releasing only three in her lifetime (Patsy Cline '57, Showcase With the Jordanaires '61 and Sentimentally Yours '62), won countless awards, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. Her life, music and strength will no doubt continue to have an influence on country music for generations to come and as her legend grows her iconic status will surely become fixed.
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