Patsy Cline | A Greatest Singer

Patsy Cline (born Virginia Patterson Hensley; September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country musicsinger and part of the Nashville sound during the late 1950s and early 1960s. She successfully “crossed over” to pop music and was one of the most influential, successful, and acclaimed vocalists of the 20th century.She died at age 30 in the crash of a private airplane,More info:wiki

Patsy Cline was one of music’s greatest voices, but she was also one of the first bad-ass women in country music. Her take-no-guff personality and approach presaged the country-music outlaws that would follow decades after her 1950s and early 60s golden years. And, perhaps more important, Cline paved the way for such future superstars as Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, and Miranda Lambert.

With classic songs like “Walking After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” and “Crazy” (written by a young Willie Nelson), Cline found monstrous success on both the country and pop music charts, an achievement that many artists still yearn to match. But behind that sweet, honeyed voice was a woman of true conviction and a titan of female empowerment. She socialized with all the guys like Carl Perkins at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville, matching them drink for drink, smoke for smoke. She petitioned the Grand Ole Opry for admittance, becoming the first artist to join in that manner instead of being invited (true to form, she wore pants to the induction ceremony, bucking the normal attire of frilly gowns.)

What Patsy Cline did in eight short years is nothing but remarkable. Over the course of one-hundred-and-two recordings, she created a catalog that continues to inspire fans of multiple musical formats all over the world. But, in a sense, those numbers are only partially correct.

During the first five years of her career, she was signed to Four Star Records, and was obligated to record songs that were tied to the label’s owner, Bill McCall. In the case of “Walkin’ After Midnight” — which received a national boost from Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, she was able to hit big. But, there would be no follow-up hits for Cline on the label.

#8 Today in Music History: Remembering Patsy Cline on her birthday,More info:thecurrent

Today in 1932, country singer Patsy Cline was born. One of the first country musicians to successfully cross over the pop charts, Cline had many hits including “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “I Fall to Pieces”, “She’s Got You”, “Crazy” and “Sweet Dreams”. She died at the age of 30 in a plane crash, but her legacy lives on through millions of records sold and as the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame.