57 Years Ago Today, Plane Crash Took the Life of Patsy Cline

Sadly, while Patsy Cline was alive, she wasn't given the credit she so richly deserved. Nowadays, long after her passing, Patsy is regarded as one of the most influential and respected performers of the last 100+ years.

Patsy's professional career began when she was just 15 years old performing on the local Winchester, Virginia radio station, WINC. She kicked around the outer fringes of the music biz during the late 1940's and early 1950's before she got her first recording contract in 1954. In 1957, she made an appearance on nationwide TV on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, where she performed her song, "Walkin' After Midnight". That song became Cline's first major hit on both the country and the pop charts:

In !958, after giving birth, Cline moved to Nashville to further her career. She became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and in 1960 signed to Decca Records where, under her new producer Owen Bradley, became a consistent hit maker. Great songs continued to issue forth: "When I Get Through With You"; "Leavin' on Your Mind"; "Crazy"; "So Wrong"; "She's Got You"; and her first single to hit #1 on the country chart, 1961's "I Fall To Pieces".

On March 5, 1963, Patsy Cline performed at a benefit show in Kansas City, Missouri. Afterwards, she boarded a plane to return home. The airplane hit upon some rough weather and eventually crashed outside of Camden, Tennessee, killing everyone on board. Patsy Cline was only 30 years old. Some may not hold her music in high regard, which is unfortunate. All I know is, I've never been in an establishment that was lucky enough to have a jukebox and not heard her beautiful voice.