Famous Virginians in History: Patsy Cline

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Born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8th,  1932, Patsy Cline grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, and spent most of her life in the sleepy laid back town of Winchester. She was affectionately called  "Ginny",  and got her start singing in bars and roadhouses of the Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland area. Patsy Cline was known as tough, but a stand out. A "rough hewn"  cowgirl singer, she developed her singing talent to become synonymous with "The Nashville Sound": The smooth and lush arrangements with backing vocals, and added stringed effects, that took Country Music "Uptown".  In her earlier days she sang on "Town and Country Time" hosted by Jimmy Dean- a regionally syndicated Country Music program in the Washington DC. area. It wasn't long before her powerful bold Contralto voice and charisma would take her to the top. She wanted it badly, because she wanted to get the heck out of Winchester, Virginia. The truth is, however, is that  Patsy Cline is an enigma- much like Elvis Presley. Her legend is deep. She is the American equivalent of Edith Piaf. If you're from the South, you know at least one Patsy Cline song. Many people who do not care for Country Music at all, love that sound. Because she sang with such feeling that people believed every word. Ever so humble she once said "All I want is a song among the To 20, and to hear my voice on record". Little did she know that she would become the darling of Country Music fans everywhere.



Patsy was not fond of getting too far from her roots. She had grown up listening to the Grand 'Ol Opry and dreamed one day of being a Star. She wanted to be number one in Country Music- and sing "the real stuff". However, she gradually accepted the new shift in Country , and became one  of the movers and shakers in the business . Patsy was known to have a heart a mile long, and went as far as helping her "competition" break into the singing field. She was generous, outgoing, and well spirited. She could tell a joke and curse as well as any man. But she was always a lady when she had to be.  Patsy was a real go getter. Her enormous talent took her from singing in bars in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, to having an honorary title in the Country Music Hall of Fame. She is the number one and most requested Juke Box play in the world. Her biggest hits "I Fall To Pieces", "Crazy", and "Sweet Dreams", are all considered classics, and have been adopted into the Library of Congress. Patsy Cline , a true Virginian. A true talent!

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