American singer Patsy Cline is the most successful country music performer who switched to pop performance. During her 8-year career, she performed many songs that became hits. But most of all, she was remembered by listeners and music lovers for her songs Crazy and I Fall to Pieces, which took a leading position in the Billboard Hot Country and Western Sides charts.
Her music is considered classic Nashville Sound style. She was the first among women to gain popularity as a country music performer. Before that, it was believed that only men could sing country music.
Family and childhood Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline (nee Virginia Patterson Hensley) was born on September 8, 1932. Her parents were 43-year-old Samuel Lawrence Hensley and his second wife, 16-year-old Hilda Virginia Patterson Hensley.
Her father's business deteriorated. Therefore, the family moved a lot from place to place. When Patsy was 16 years old, her parents separated. And she moved with her mother, sister and brother to a private house in the city of Winchester.
One day, Patsy came down with a sore throat. After her recovery, her voice became louder and stronger. During this period of her life, together with her mother, she began to sing in the choir of the local Baptist church and mastered the piano.
The beginning of Patsy Cline's career
When she was 14 years old, Patsy started singing on the city radio. She then secured an audition for the Nashville Grand Ole Opry. She also auditioned with veteran country producer Bill Peer. She then began performing frequently with his country band.
At the same time, she won several music competitions in her region. Thanks to this, she got the opportunity to participate in a TV show. Television performances of the artist were favorably received by critics.
Through television and friends, Patsy Cline caught the attention of Four Star Records. As a result, she signed a contract for two years. When recording songs with Four Star Records, they used different styles - gospel, rockabilly, neo-traditionalism and pop. Her songs were not successful, with the exception of Walkin' After Midnigh, which peaked at number 2 on the music chart.
The peak of the career of the artist Patsy Cline
When the contract ended, the singer found herself a new producer, Randy Hughes. Then she moved to Nashville, where she signed a new contract with Decca Records.
This studio immediately recorded her best song I Fall to Pieces. Then the single Crazy was recorded. Both hits were highly acclaimed by music critics. Her popularity began to give a good income when the singer had several new hits at once.
Interesting Facts
- Favorite foods are chicken and spaghetti.
- She collected salt shakers and earrings.
- She has a personal star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- At the end of the XNUMXst century, Crazy remained a song often played on jukeboxes.
- A US commemorative postage stamp was issued in her honor.
- The super hit I Fall to Pieces was a blueprint for the so-called "Nashville sound" of 1960s country music.
- Winchester has a bell tower erected in her memory at Shenandoah Memorial Park.
- The city authorities installed a personal road sign in front of the singer's house-museum.
Patsy Kline's personal life
The first husband of the singer was Gerald Kline. They met during one of the concerts and got married on March 7, 1953. Gerald's family owned a construction company. However, due to the busy concert schedule, family life did not work out. As a result, in 1957 the couple broke up.
The second husband was Charlie Dick. They married in the fall of 1957. Charlie worked for a local newspaper as a printer. Their romance was very stormy and passionate. In this marriage, two children were born - daughter Julie and son Randy.
Voice and style
Patsy Cline sang in a contralto voice. The sound of her voice was called bold and very emotional. Songs at the beginning of his career sounded in various styles - gospel, rockabilly and honky-tonk.
Her late style is associated with the classic country sound of Nashville Sound, where familiar country lyrics are overlaid with pop music. At the beginning of her career, the artist performed in hats and clothes sewn by her mother and embroidered with fringe in the style of a cowboy.
When the country music singer moved into pop music, she completely changed her image. Now she wears sequined cocktail dresses.
A string of accidents and death
On June 14, 1961, their car was rammed by another car. The strongest blow threw her directly on the windshield. Two people from the other car were killed.
As a result, Patsy received multiple injuries to her face and head, a fractured wrist, and a dislocated hip. She was urgently operated on. In the future, she underwent several more plastic surgeries.
On March 5, 1963, they were returning home to Nashville in a private jet from a benefit concert in Kansas City, Missouri. Her manager was at the controls of the plane. The plane got into a terrible thunderstorm and crashed near the city of Camden (Tennessee).
A memorial service was held in the city of Nashville. Her remains were then moved to Winchester for burial. The funeral attracted the attention of fans and the media. Her grave is in the Shenandoah Memorial Park near the city.
Conclusion
Decades after her death, Patsy Cline has become a musical icon. She changed the established general opinion that country music is exclusively a man's business.
In 1973, she became the first soloist to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. In 1981, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Virginia.
Her recordings have sold several million copies. Many biographies have been written about the artist, several musicals, a tribute album and the feature film Sweet Dreams (1985) have been created.
Her two best songs, Crazy and I Fall to Pieces, received awards from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
