ROOTS of Country Music

The Professional Work of Patsy Cline 

(Sep. 8, 1932 – Mar. 5, 1963)

Career Highlights

Barn Dance Affiliates

• Louisiana Hayride -1956
• Ozark Jubilee -1956

Grand Ole Opry Member -1960

Radio, Film & TV

• Arthur Godfret's Talent Scouts 1957, 4
• Ernest Tubb's Midnight Jamboree, 3
• Carnegie Hall, 2

1-Film, 2-Night Club, 3-Radio, 4-TV

Billboard Chart Data 

• No. 1 Singles: 2
• Top-20 Singles: 9
• Crossover Singles: 4
• Charted Singles: 19
• Years Active: 1957-1963

Awards

Country Music Association

Country Music Hall of Fame -1973

Career Labels

• 4 Star Records (1955-1960)
• Decca Records (1960-1963)

Billboard Top-10 Singles

1. Walkin' After Midnight -1957
2. I Fall To Pieces* -1961
3. Crazy
4. She's Got You*# -1962
5. When I Get Thru with You
6. Leavin' On Your Mind -1963
7. Sweet Dreams
8. Faded Love
9. Have You Ever Been Lonely, 1 -1981

*No. 1 Chart Single

#Biggest Chart Single

1With Jim Reeves

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I Fall to Pieces: The Patsy Cline Story

One of the biggest tragedies to strike the country music world happened on March 5, 1963, when Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins died in a plane crash near Camden,Tennessee (TN). Cline was riding the crest of an exceptional year, one year previous.

To that point, she had scored her biggest chart hit, She's Got You and was gaining huge popularity across many sectors of the music domain. Although her death left a huge void in country music, her popularity lingered for years. In 1973 Patsy was elected posthumously to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the first female artist to receive that honor.

Patsy Cline has been heralded, by fans, colleagues and music critics alike, as one of the most influential and unique vocalists in the history of modern music. She came into the limelight after an appearance on the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television program in 1957, singing Walking After Midnight.

Patsy helped blaze a trail for female singers to assert themselves as an integral part of the male dominated country music industry. She was not alone in this regard; Kitty Wells and Jean Shepard had become stars several years before Cline's surge of popularity during the early '60s.

Although her career was cut short by her untimely death, she became one of the greatest singers in the history of country music. The dreadful irony of Cline’s tragic death is that she was just reaching her stride, after nearly a decade of setbacks. Cline has the most legendary allure of any female country singer, however, perhaps due to her death, which occurred just after she had entered her prime. Death, though only magnified her legend.

No one should think of country music during the 1960s in today’s terms. Sales were awfully low and about to be further eroded by the sudden onslaught of rock ‘n’ roll. The country music singer’s life was an endless grind of beer halls, five hundred mile jaunts on country roads between shows and maybe a Grand Ole Opry appearance on Saturday night.

That was certainly Cline’s life during the years prior to her death. Her legend if anything was more difficult because of two pregnancies and a near-fatal auto accident necessitating long interruptions in her career.

Circumstances were not entirely to blame for Cline's initial commercial fiasco. Things took a radical turn for the better on all fronts in 1960, when her ill-fated contract with 4-Star expired. After switching to Decca Records, Cline began a string of timeless hit recordings, under the helm of legendary Nashville Sound Producer, Owen Bradley.

With the help of Owen, Cline began selecting material that was both more suitable and of a higher quality than her previous cache, including her biggest single, She’s Got You (No. 1, 1962). I Fall to Pieces (No. 1, 1961), cut at the very first Decca session, was the turning point in her career for a time.

On June 14, 1961, Cline and her brother, Sam, were involved in a head-on car collision in Nashville, the second and more serious of two during her lifetime. The impact threw Cline into the windshield, nearly killing her. After a month in the hospital, she returned to the road on crutches, determined to be a survivor with a new appreciation for life. Despite the setback, Cline remained popular with Crazy (No. 2, 1961) and She's Got You (No. 1, 1962), both becoming big country and pop hits.

Much of her achingly romantic material was supplied by fresh talent like Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard, and Willie Nelson. Sweet Dreams (No. 5, 1963) and Faded Love (No. 7, 1963) were her final top-ten entries, both charting posthumously. The country elements were provided by the cream of Nashville's session musicians, including guitarist Hank Garland, pianist Floyd Cramer, and drummer Buddy Harman.

Although her commercial momentum had faded slightly, she was still at the top of her game when she died. In 1961, she became the first female country music vocalist to play Carnegie Hall, and later, in 1962, the first to headline her own show inLas Vegas. In 1973, she became the first female solo act to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Aircraft Accident

On March 3, 1963, Cowboy Copas, Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins performed at a benefit concert in Kansas City, Kansas for the family of disc jockey Cactus Jack Call, who had died the previous December in an automobile accident. Among the performers was Billy Walker (Charlie’s Shoes), who received an urgent phone call and needed to return to Nashville immediately. Hawkins gave Walker his commercial plane ticket and instead flew back later in a private plane in Walker's place.

On March 5, Hawkins, Cline and Copas left for Nashville, Tennessee, USA in a Piper Comanche piloted by Cline's manager and Copas’ son-in-law, Randy Hughes. After stopping to refuel in Dyersburg, Tennessee, the craft took off at 6:07 p.m. (CT). The plane flew into severe weather and crashed near Camden, Tennessee, ninety miles from Nashville. There were no survivors. The reported time of the crash varies sometime between 6:20pm and 7:00pm. Patsy's watch was reportedly stopped at 6:20pm.

Known for her strong will and ambition, Patsy Cline is often credited as a heroine by newer generations of female singers, who claim she opened doors to them in a business dominated by men. She was only a superstar for a couple of years, but her influence was and remains huge. Patsy's recordings really grow on you.

They get better and better each time you listen to them. Patsy did record a few old standard songs, and even if you normally don't like those songs, you're bound to like Patsy's versions, because all of her recordings really are something special. Patsy was in the DMZ between country and pop and she really changed the course of country music, beginning a new era for female country music singers.

The beautiful voice of Patsy Cline that sounded rich, confident and mature has enabled her recordings to maintain their appeal with subsequent generations. One cannot listen to her songs, the lyrics and forget them. The catch in her unique voice, the soulfulness in her delivery, is everywhere now. It all began with the legendary Patsy Cline.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Patsy Cline Discography (Jun. 1, 1955- Feb. 7, 1963)

Jun. 1, 1955

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocal), Harold Bradley (acoustic guitar), Owen Bradley (piano), Farris Coursey (drums), Don Helms (steel guitar), Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. Hidin' Out
2. Turn the Cards Slowly
3. A Church, A Courtroom, And Then Goodbye
4. Honky Tonk Merry Go Round

Jan. 5, 1956

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocal), Harold Bradley (acoustic guitar), Owen Bradley (piano), Farris Coursey (drums), Don Helms (steel guitar), Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. I Love You, Honey
2. Come On In (And Make Yourself At Home)
3. I Cried All the Way To the Altar
4. I Don't Wanta

Apr. 22, 1956

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocal), Harold Bradley (acoustic guitar), Owen Bradley (piano), Farris Coursey (drums), Don Helms (steel guitar), Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. Stop, Look And Listen
2. I've Loved And Lost Again
3. Dear God
4. He Will Do For You

Nov. 8, 1956

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocal), Harold Bradley (acoustic guitar), Owen Bradley (piano), Farris Coursey (drums), Don Helms (steel guitar), Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. Walkin' After Midnight
2. The Heart You Break May Be Your Own
3. Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
4. A Poor Man's Roses (Or A Rich Man's Gold)

Apr. 24 , 1957

Decca Recording Studio; New York City, New York USA

Producer: W.S. Stevenson

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocal), Grady Martin, Hank Garland (electric guitar), Harold Bradley (electric bass guitar), Jack Shook (acoustic guitar), Don Helms, Jimmy Day (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), Farris Coursey (drums), Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Owen Bradley (piano), Anita Kerr, Dorothy Ann Dillard, Louis Nunley, William Wright (vocals)

1. Today, Tomorrow And Forever
2. Fingerprints
3. A Stranger In My Arms
4. Don't Ever Leave Me Again

Apr. 25 , 1957

Decca Recording Studio; New York City, New York USA

Producer: W.S. Stevenson

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocal), Grady Martin, Hank Garland (electric guitar), Harold Bradley (electric bass guitar), Jack Shook (acoustic guitar), Don Helms, Jimmy Day (steel guitar), Bob Moore (bass), Farris Coursey (drums), Tommy Jackson (fiddle), Owen Bradley (piano), Anita Kerr, Dorothy Ann Dillard, Louis Nunley, William Wright (vocals)

1. Try Again
2. Too Many Secrets
3. Then You'll Know
4. Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray

May 23, 1957

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Anita Kerr Singers (vocal), Harold Bradley (electric bass guitar), Owen Bradley (piano), Farris Coursey (drums),  Hank Garland, Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Jack Shook (acoustic guitar)

1. That Wonderful Someone
2. In Care of the Blues
3. Hungry For Love
4. I Can't Forget
5. I Don't Wanta
6. Ain't No Wheels On This Ship (We Can't Roll)

Dec. 13, 1957

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Anita Kerr Singers (vocal). Remaining session personnel probably same as May 23, 1957.

1. Stop the World (And Let Me Off)
2. Walking Dream
3. Cry Not For Me
4. If I Could See the World (Through the Eyes of A Child)

Feb. 13, 1958

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Anita Kerr Singers (vocal). Remaining session personnel probably same as May 23, 1957.

1. Just Out of Reach
2. I Can See An Angel
3. Come On In (And Make Yourself At Home)
4. Let the Teardrops Fall
5. Never No More
6. If I Could Only Stay Asleep

Jan. 8, 1959

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Buddy Harman (drums), Hank Garland, Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. I'm Moving Along
2. I'm Blue Again
3. Love, Love, Love Me

Jan. 9, 1959

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Farris Coursey (drums), Hank Garland, Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. Yes, I Understand
2. Gotta Lot of Rhythm In My Soul

Jul. 3, 1959

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Floyd Cramer (piano), Buddy Harman(drums), Hank Garland, Grady Martin  (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. Life's Railway to Heaven
2. Just A Closer Walk With Thee

Jul. 27, 1960

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Floyd Cramer (piano), Jimmy Day (steel guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Hank Garland, Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar) 

1. Lovesick Blues
2. How Can I Face Tomorrow
3. There He Goes
4. Crazy Dreams

Nov. 16, 1960

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Hargus Robbins (piano), Ben Keith (steel guitar), Doug Kirkham (drums), Hank Garland (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. I Fall to Pieces
2. Shoes
3. Lovin' In Vain

Aug. 17, 1961

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Byron Bach (cello), Brenton Banks, George Binkley III , Lillian Hunt, Suzanne Parker (violin), (Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), John Bright, Cecil Brower (viola), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Hargus Robbins (piano), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. True Love
2. San Antonio Rose
3. The Wayward Wind
4. A Poor Man's Roses (Or A ich Man's Gold)

Aug. 21, 1961

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (organ, piano), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar)

1. Crazy

Aug. 24, 1961

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (organ), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Hargus Robbins (piano)

1. Who Can I Count On
2. Seven Lonely Days
3. I Love You So Much It Hurts
4. Foolin' Round
5. Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue)

Aug. 25, 1961

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (organ), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Hargus Robbins (piano)

1. South of the Boarder (Down Mexico Way)
2. Walkin' After Midnight
3. Strange
4. You're Stronger Than Me

Dec. 17, 1961

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (organ)

1. She's Got You

Feb. 12, 1962

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar),  Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Charlie McCoy (harmonica), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (organ)

You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)

1. You Belong to Me
2. Heartaches
3. Your Cheatin' Heart

Feb. 13, 1962

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (organ)

1. That's My Desire
2. Half As Much

Feb. 15, 1962

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Walter Haynes (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (organ), Brenton Banks, Cecil Brower, Solie Fott, Lillian Hunt, Verne Richardson (violin), Bill Pursell (organ)

1. Lonely Street
2. Anytime
3. You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love)
4. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)

Feb. 28, 1962

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Byron Bach (cello), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Howard Carpenter, Ed Tarpley  (viola), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Joe Zinkan (acoustic bass guitar), Brenton Banks, Cecil Brower, Lillian Hunt, Verne Richardson (violin)

1. You Stronger Than Me
2. When I Get Through With You (You'll Love Me Too)
3. Imagine That
4. So Wrong

Sep. 5, 1962

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal),  Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Hargus Robbins (piano), (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Brenton Banks, Cecil Brower, Howard Carpenter, Solie Fott, Nancy Hearn, Lillian Hunt, Verne Richardson (violin), Rita Faye Wilson (autoharp)

1. Why Can't He Be You
2. Your Kinda Love
3. When You Need A Laugh
4. Leavin' On Your Mind

Sep. 10, 1962

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Hargus Robbins (piano), (steel guitar), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (organ), Brenton Banks, Cecil Brower, Solie Fott, Michael Semanitzky, Lillian Hunt, Verne Richardson (violin)

1. Back In Baby's Arms
2. Tra Le La Le La Triangle
3. That's How Heartaches Begins

Feb. 4, 1963

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (organ), Byron Bach, Brenton Banks, George Brinkley III, Cecil Brower, Howard Carpenter, Solie Fott, Martin Katahn, Lillian Hunt, Verne Richardson, Gary Williams (violin)

1. Faded Love
2. Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)
3. Love Letters In the Sand

Feb. 5, 1963

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (vibraphone), Byron Bach, Brenton Banks, George Brinkley III, Cecil Brower, Howard Carpenter, Solie Fott, Wilda Tinsley, Lillian Hunt, Verne Richardson, Gary Williams (violin)

1. Blue Moon of Kentucky
2. Sweet Dreams

Always

Feb. 6, 1963

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Harold Bradley (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (vibraphone), Byron Bach, Brenton Banks, George Brinkley III, Cecil Brower, Howard Carpenter, Solie Fott, Wilda Tinsley, Lillian Hunt, Verne Richardson, Gary Williams (violin)

1. Does Your Heart Beat For Me
2. Bill Bailey, Won't You Come Home

Feb. 7, 1963

Bradley Film & Recording Studio; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Producer: Owen Bradley

Session Personnel: Patsy Cline, Jordanaires (vocal), Wayne Moss (6-string electric bass guitar), Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar), Randy Hughes (acoustic guitar), Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Grady Martin (electric guitar), Bob Moore (acoustic bass guitar), Bill Pursell (vibraphone), Byron Bach, Brenton Banks, George Brinkley III, Cecil Brower, Howard Carpenter, Solie Fott, Wilda Tinsley, Lillian Hunt, Verne Richardson, Gary Williams (violin), Grady Martin (electric guitar)

1. He Called Me Baby
2. Crazy Arms
3. You Took Him Off My Hands
4. I'll Sail My Ship Alone

Date: Unknown

Ryman Auditorium; Nashville, Tennessee USA

Patsy Cline (vocal), Unknown male vocal group, vocals

1. Just A Closer Walk With Me

Patsy Cline & the Kountry Krackers: L-R) Hank Leroy, Bud Armel, Ray Kirkpatrick, Patsy Cline, Ralph Lamp, Vic Hamilton, Dave Hawthorne

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, written and compiled by Richard Bell, Country Music Historian, Roots of Country Music, Aug. 16, 2010.