Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CLINE, Patsy

(b Virginia Petterson Hensley, 8 Sep. '32, Winchester VA; d 5 March '63, Camden TN) Country/pop singer. Began in her teens; signed to Four Star Records '54; forced to record only songs published by record company. Appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scout TV show Jan. '57, sang 'Walkin' After Midnight', record went to top five country, top 20 pop. Signed to Decca, but restricted by old contract until '60. Divorced from Gerald Cline, married Charlie Dick '57. 'I Fall To Pieces' no. 1 country, top ten pop '61, then she was badly injured in car crash; more hits followed: 'Crazy' no. 2 country, top ten pop '61; 'She's Got You' no. 1 country, pop hit in UK '62; 'When I Get Thru With You' '62, 'Leavin' On Your Mind' '63 both top ten country; 'Sweet Dreams' top five, 'Faded Love' top ten country both '63. Died in plane crash that also killed Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes. First female country singer to cross over into pop and to rival Kitty Wells as top female country star; posthumous popularity maintained with regular reissues. Elected to Country Music Hall of Fame '73; recordings dubbed with those of Jim Reeves to make ghoulish duet hits '81: 'Have You Ever Been Lonely', 'I Fall To Pieces'. She has been a major infl. on generations of younger singers; Loretta Lynn recorded an album of Cline songs and saw that Cline's role was prominent in her own biopic Coal Miner's Daughter '80; Jessica Lange played Cline in biopic based on Ellis Nassour's biography Sweet Dreams '85 (the album of that name was original recordings with new backing tracks). Original LPs reissued on CD incl. Sentimentally Yours, Tribute To Patsy Cline, Showcase, That's How A Heartache Begins etc, two vols of Live At The Opry, all on MCA; 'lost' tapes from Godfrey radio and TV shows found in the attic of Cline's former Nashville house and released as Discovery '94 on Prism. Live At The Cimarron Ballroom '97 was made '61 in Tulsa, the tape rescued from a flea market in Florida.