Patsy Cline was born 82 years ago today. The country music singer was part of the early 1960s Nashville sound and she successfully crossed over to pop music. At age 30, she died at the height of her career in a private plane crash. Cline was one of the most influential, successful and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century. She was best known for her rich tone, emotionally expressive and bold contralto voice and her role as a country music industry pioneer. She helped pave the way for women as headline performers in the genre. Cline was cited as an inspiration by singers in several genres. Books, movies, documentaries, articles and stage plays document her life and career. Her hits began in 1957 with Donn Hechts Walkin After Midnight,” Harlan Howards I Fall to Pieces,” Hank Cochrans Shes Got You,” Willie Nelsons Crazy and ended in 1963 with Don Gibsons Sweet Dreams.” Millions of her records have sold since her death. She won awards and accolades, leading some fans to view her as an icon at the level of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. Ten years after her death, in 1973, she became the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Friends Dottie West, June Carter Cash and Loretta Lynn recalled Cline telling them during the early 1960s that she felt a sense of impending doom and did not expect to live much longer. Cline, known for her generosity, had begun giving away personal items to friends, writing her will on Delta Air Lines stationery and asking close friends to care for her children should anything happen to her. She told Jordanaires back-up singer Ray Walker as she exited the Grand Ole Opry the week before her death: Honey, Ive had two bad ones (accidents). The third one will either be a charm or itll kill me. On March 5, 1963, Clines flight encountered inclement weather and crashed. Her recovered wristwatch had stopped at approximately 6:20 p.m. The plane wreckage was located approximately 90 miles from its Nashville destination in a forest outside Camden, Tennessee. Early the following morning, Roger Miller and his friend went searching for survivors: As fast as I could, I ran through the woods screaming their names — through the brush and the trees, and I came up over this little rise, oh, my God, there they were. It was ghastly. The plane had crashed nose down.” Shortly after the bodies were removed, looters scavenged the area. Some of the items which were recovered were eventually donated to The Country Music Hall of Fame. Included in those donations were Clines wrist watch, Confederate flag cigarette lighter, studded belt and three pairs of gold lamé slippers. Here, Cline performs “I Fall to Pieces” in February 1963, a month before her death.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 09:44:39 +0000
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