The Sound Of Patsy Cline

On January 21, 1957 a talented little gal stood in front of the CBS television cameras and sang a song. The vocalist was PATSY CLINE, the programme was the Arthur Godfrey "Talent Scout" TV Show, and the song was WALKIN' AFTER MIDNIGHT.When the time came for the studio audience to vote a winner, their applause put PATSY right on top. Evidently it wasn't only that studio audience that liked the way that PATSY sang WALKIN' AFTER MIDNIGHT -for during the next few months her U.S. DECCA recording of the song was among the nation's best sellers. PATSY, a native of Winchester, Virginia, made her first public performance at the age of four, when she took the first prize for tap-dancing in an amateur contest. When she was eight she received a piano for her birthday, and her interest in singing grew as she learned to accompany herself at the keyboard. Throughout the childhood, PATSY was active in all church choir performances, and at sixteen her vocal activities expanded to include school plays, benefits and club appearances. Soon thereafter, PATSY had the "big break" that led her successfully along the road to stardom. Wally Fowler, of "Grand Ole Opry" fame, was appearing at the Palace Theatre in Winchester. PATSY managed an audition for him, and not only was she given a guest spot on the bill, but Fowler was so impressed with the teenager that he persuaded her parents to let her go to Nashville -Music City, USA- to try her luck. It was by means a Cinderella success story, but while in Nashville and even after returning to Virginia, PATSY made many friends in the music business. They had faith in her, and helped her in every possible way. PATSY's success with WALKIN' AFTER MIDNIGHT was followed by hit after hit. I FALL TO PIECES, CRAZY, and SHE'S GOT YOU were hallmarks in a career that was zooming at top speed and bringing success, fame and fortune to a girl who always sang with great sincerity. The future held many new horizons for PATSY CLINE, but a tragic air crash on March 6, 1963 in a suburb of Nashville took her life of this young star. Though PATSY is gone she still lives on through her many recordings.