Patsy Cline

Patsy Cline was an American Country music singer whose talent and wide-ranging appeal made her one of the classic performers of the genre, bridging the gap between country music and more mainstream audiences. She was born in Winchester, Va., in 1932, failed an audition for the Grand Ole Opry in 1948, and got a record contract in 1954. But her big break came in 1957 when Patsy appeared on the Jan. 21, 1957, television broadcast of the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts and sang "Walking After Midnight." It became an instant hit on both Country and Pop charts. In 1959, she moved to Nashville to pursue her career full-time. In 1960, Patsy became a member of the Grand Ole Opry; the first to do so simply by asking. She went on to record hits "I Fall To Pieces" and "Crazy," which would go on to become not only songwriter Willie Nelson's favorite rendition of his song but the No.1 jukebox song of all time, as awarded by the AMOA (Amusement & Music Operators Association). She performed with fellow Opry stars at Carnegie Hall in New York City and toured with Johnny Cash's Shower of Stars at the Hollywood Bowl, making her the only female country artist to perform at both Carnegie Hall and The Hollywood Bowl. She was the first female country artist to headline her own show in Las Vegas with a 35-day run at The Mint. She tragically died in 1963 in a plane crash.