Patsy Cline | Artist
Virginia Patterson Hensley aka Patsy Cline was an American country singer born 1932 in Winchester, Virginia. She is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and was one of the first country music artists to cross over into pop music. Cline had several major hits during her eight-year recording career, including two number-one hits "I Fall to Pieces" and the Willie Nelson penned song "Crazy", before her life was tragically cut short at the age of 30 in a plane crash. Cline's first professional performances began at local radio station WINC when she was fifteen. In the early 1950s, she began appearing in a local band led by performer Bill Peer. Various local appearances led to featured performances on Connie B. Gay's Town and Country television broadcasts. It also led to the signing of her first recording contract with the Four Star label in 1954. She had minor success with her earliest Four Star singles and made her first national television appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts show. Her performance of "Walkin' After Midnight" led to the single becoming her first major hit on both the country and pop charts. In 1957 she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to further her career and began working with new manager Randy Hughes. Cline became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and then move to Decca Records in 1960 where her musical sound shifted and she achieved consistent success. The 1961 single "I Fall to Pieces" became her first to top the Billboard country chart. As the song became a hit, Cline was severely injured in an automobile accident, which caused her to spend a month in the hospital. After she recovered, her next single release "Crazy" would also become a major hit. During 1962 and 1963, Cline had further hits with "She's Got You, "When I Get Through With You", "So Wrong" and "Leavin' on Your Mind." She also toured and headlined shows with more frequency. In March 1963, Cline was killed in a plane crash along with country performers Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and manager Randy Hughes, during a flight from Kansas City back to Nashville, after giving a charity performance. Since her death, Cline has been cited as one of the most celebrated, respected, and influential performers of the 20th century. Her music has influenced performers of various styles and genres. She has also been seen as a forerunner for women in country music, being among the first to sell records and headline concerts. In 1973, she became the first female performer to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In the 1980s, Cline's posthumous successes continued in the mass media. She was portrayed twice in major motion pictures, including the 1985 biopic Sweet Dreams starring Jessica Lange. Several documentaries and stage shows were released during this time, including the 1988 musical Always...Patsy Cline. In her lifetime Cline release 3 albums, Showcase (1961) and Sentimentally Yours (1962) are the standouts. Also recommended are the 1988 archival release Live at the Opry, and the compilations The Patsy Cline Story (1963) and Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits (1967).
Artist Website: patsymuseum.com
Featured Albums: Patsy Cline
Related Artists: The Jordanaires, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson
Video Clips: Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Your Cheatin' Heart
