Down In Infamy: The Death of Patsy Cline « Broken Radio. Stars burn out, the same way a light bulb does, and it happens all the time.
The brightest stars burn the hottest, and their void puts an indelible mark on whatever they leave behind. So it also happens with people; the more you know about someone, the harder it is to imagine a world without them. For country music fans, the loss of Patsy Cline was the gut punch that stole our breath away. Without warning and devoid of reason, she was gone, “down in infamy” to put it crudely. What she left behind was a body of work that touched lives and changed a genre of music forever. She started life as Virginia Patterson Hensley, but soon into her music career she began going by Patsy Cline. In 1955 she signed her first record contract, with Four Star Records, which yielded good exposure throughout Virginia and Maryland, landing her radio spots and eventual trips to the Opry.
In 1959, Cline began her professional relationship with manager Randy Hughes. Fast forward to 1963. Like this: Patsy Cline's strange death, on this day in country music history - Minneapolis - Music - Gimme Noise - Page 2. On this day in history 1963, Patsy Cline performed her last show ever before dying at the age of 30.
But it was the events that happened in the ensuing weeks (and years) that were truly notable... and, well, weird. On March 3, 1963, Patsy Cline traveled to Kansas City to perform three shows as part of a benefit for the family of disc jockey Cactus Jack Call, who'd recently died in a car accident. Sharing the stage with her that day were such notable performers as George Jones, Billy Walker, Dottie West, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins.
Friends West, June Carter Cash and Loretta Lynn have all since recalled Cline telling them in the months preceding this performance that she felt a sense of impending doom, and didn't expect she would live much longer. She even began distributing her personal items to friends, and making plans for her will and the care of her children. Cline was no stranger to grievous injury. Photos. PatsyCline. Patsy cline. Patsy Cline - Crazy. Patsy Cline. Virginia Patterson Hensley (September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963), known professionally as Patsy Cline, was an American country music singer.
Part of the early 1960s Nashville sound, Cline successfully "crossed over" to pop music. She died in a multiple fatality crash of her private plane at the age of 30. She was one of the most influential, successful and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century.[1][2] Cline was best known for her rich tone, emotionally expressive and bold contralto voice[3] and her role as a country music industry pioneer. Along with Kitty Wells,[4] she helped pave the way for women as headline performers in the genre. Millions of her records have sold since her death. Early years[edit] Childhood[edit] Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley in 1932, in Winchester, Virginia, to Hilda Patterson Hensley, a 16-year-old seamstress, and Sam Hensley, a 43-year-old blacksmith.
Cline's home in Winchester, Virginia. Teen years[edit] Personal life[edit] First marriage[edit]