Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline wasn't just a country singer; she was a presence. Few artists could phrase a song like Patsy could. She had a way of lingering on a note long enough to pull every ounce of feeling from it, as her smoky, full-bodied voice carried life's sorrows and joys. This ability wasn't just a singing technique, though. It was how Patsy approached life. "Say the words with the feeling they deserve," she would say.
Born Virginia Patterson Hensley in 1932, Patsy grew up in the small town of Winchester, Virginia, where dreams often faded during the Great Depression. It was a difficult place in a difficult time. As her mother later wrote, "We weren't very happy, because there wasn't any money."
But there were joys in young Patsy's life. Music being the biggest. As her mother recalled,
"As a child Patsy idolized Shirley Temple. She would come home from the movies after seeing the pictures twice and say, 'Mama, I want to be a dancer like her.'
I'd say, 'What! Now listen, Virginia... ' but it didn't do any good. It wasn't too long before she was tap dancing all over the house. I'd stand there and watch her and shake my head. But I couldn't help but smile or laugh. She was something!"
Things stabilized somewhat by the end of that decade. And Patsy, whose love for music began around the age of four, received her first piano at eight. She would consider this the start of her music career.
By her teen years, she actively sought performance opportunities anywhere that would let her play. And at 15, her music was on the radio. But these early songs were all flops, and fame would be far away.
Yet, there was something deeply special about Patsy. The talent was there. The turning point came in 1957 when she performed Walkin’ After Midnight on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. Her electric performance turned the song into a national hit, launching Patsy into the spotlight. Stardom followed shortly after.
But sadly, in 1963, just as she was beginning to enjoy the fruits of all the hard work, tragedy struck. A small plane carrying her and a couple of other musicians crashed, taking her life at just 30 years old.
Patsy's music, however, has passed the test of time. Decades later, her voice continues to soothe hearts and bring smiles.
A couple more songs:
Sources:
Cline, Patsy, et al. Love Always, Patsy: Patsy Cline's Letters to a Friend. United States, Berkley Books, 1999.
Nassour, Ellis. Patsy Cline. United States, Tower Books, 1981.
“Patsy Cline.” Country Music Hall of Fame, https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/patsy-cline
Ward, Ed. “Patsy Cline: A Country Career Cut Short.” NPR Fresh Air, August 30, 2010, https://www.npr.org/2010/08/30/129526320/patsy-cline-a-country-career-cut-short
Wikimedia Commons, Wikimedia Foundation, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patsy_Cline_1960_publicity_portrait_-_cropped.jpg
Absolutely love Patsy Cline! 🤍
An all time favourite. 🤩