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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZOSLIN, K.T.(b Kay Toinette Oslin, 15 May 1941, Crossitt AR; d 21 December 2020, Nashville) Country singer, songwriter, pianist with 'mature woman' songs late '80s, became a triple Grammy winner and CMA Female Vocalist of '88. Her mother was an aspiring performer with her own radio show, had briefly sung with Les Brown's band; family settled in Houston and K.T. took ballet lessons and majored in drama at Jacksonville Junior College. She formed a folk group with Guy Clark and radio producer David Jones, then teamed with Texas singer Frank Davis and travelled to Los Angeles; returned to Houston and appeared in the chorus in Carol Channing's National Touring Company's Hello, Dolly! leading to work in revivals of West Side Story, Promises, Promises etc. She also did backup singing and jingles; linked again with Clark on his eponymous album '78; moved to Nashville to work as a songwriter and landed a record deal with Elektra, reaching the top 75 country singles as Kay T. Oslin with 'Clean Your Own Tables' '81. Gail Davies cut her 'Round The Clock Lovin' ' '82; more songs were recorded by Dottie West, Judy Rodman, etc; self-promoted Nashville showcase '86 led to a contract with RCA, and debut album 80's Ladies '87 including country no. 1 'Do Ya'; further hits included 'I'll Always Come Back', 'Hold Me', 'Hey Bobby', 'This Woman', 'Come Next Monday', etc; appeared in movies The Thing Called Love, Poisoned By Love '93-4 and TV series Evening Shade and Paradise. Other albums included This Woman '88, Love In A Small Town '90, Songs From An Aging Sex Bomb '93 all on RCA. After quadruple-bypass heart surgery '95 she came back strongly with My Roots Are Showing, a bold journey through American music. There have been two or three compilation albums; Live Close By, Visit Often appeared on a BNA Entertainment label 2001, produced by Raul Malo, who also wrote several of the songs. |