Stories from 1998

• "My Dad was the most influential figure in my entire life and my best friend. He died on February 26, 1998 of an unexpected massive heart attack. I had bought him and my mom a stereo with a CD player for Christmas 1997. I gave them a few of my CD's I thought they might like. I was going to buy them some more CD's to listen to and asked my Dad what artists he liked. It wasn't very long list but Patsy was the first name on it. I bought him the Patsy Cline's 12 Greatest Hits CD in January 1998 and was planning a trip back home to Lexington, TN to give it to him. I had several upsets to my schedule, but was finally going to get to go home the weekend of February 28, 1998. I had spoken with my Dad on the phone earlier that week. Just after I hung up, I remembered I hadn't told him about the CD. So, I called him back immediately and told him I'd bought him the CD and would bring it to him that weekend. I remember I thought 'I love you Daddy' just as I hung up. That was the last time I talked to him. When he had the heart attack he died long before I could make the 4-1/2 hour trip home see him. So, I kept the CD and listened to it a little at a time between March 1998 and now (December 1998). Before, I didn't consider myself a Country Music fan at all (even thought I lived in Hendersonville from 1991-94!), but now I can honestly say that I listen to Patsy's 12 Greatest Hits more than any other CD and I just love it!! What a BEAUTIFUL sound!!!!"
  Eric Sikes, Dec 20, 1998.
• "My name is Sy and I am from the Chicago area. I first became aware of the incredible gift of Ms. Cline when I was eight and a half or nine years old. I was watching cable television and one day after school when I flipped on The Movie Channel and began watching this movie called 'Sweet Dreams'. I didn't move from my spot on the couch. I was just... I don't even know how to describe it! It was like a truck hitting me dead on! I became immediately fascinated and I had to find out more. I went to the Bellwood Public library in Bellwood, Illinois, and read up on Patsy Cline, and when I saved up enough allowance money, I went and bought a tape of her greatest hits...needless to say, I became a life long fan. She was a genius and it hurts my heart others will never know the intesity and passion of a true american, worldwide artist. When others my age ridiculed me for liking 'white people's music' I was being 'schooled' in culture and life...American life; 12yrs. later, because of Ms. Cline, I can appreciate the world better, and understand that we all are just human beings and sometimes life gets crazy... She is the contemporary counterpart, in my eyes, to Ms. Billie Holiday and geniuses don't come that often..."
  Sy Ingram, Dec 15, 1998.
• "I started to become an admirer of Patsy some years ago, when I bought in a music shop in Dublin, Ireland, a compact disc with a short collection of her songs. This CD is called 'Walking After Midnight'. I remember that I enjoyed it a lot; so when I had my first american trip and I found in a huge californian music store the four CD collection 'The Patsy Cline Collection' by MCA, I bought it immediately. Now she is among my favourite female singers! To tell the truth, until then I had no idea who Patsy Cline was. But listening to her charming voice and reading her biographical and artistic notes, I fell in love with this artist. I don't care about some friends of mine who consider me an 'old fogy' because of my personal taste; I say that a great artist always will remain a great artist! And what emotions this voice can convey to me every time I listen to her pieces..."
  Marco A. Picco, Dec 15, 1998.
• "I am only 12 but for as long as I remember I have listened to country music. I was practically brought up with it. The first time I heard Patsy Cline was at a cafe. The song 'Crazy' was playing on the jukebox and I just fell in love with it. I wanted to hear more of Patsy Cline because she had such a beautiful voice. So I went to the local music store and bought one of her tapes. I played it all the time. I don't care what people think of Patsy or country music. I love the way she makes the music sound. I am proud to be a Patsy Cline fan."
  Robert Deighton, Dec 14, 1998.
• "Hi, my name is Melissa Hensley. I first heard Patsy Cline when I was a little girl because my grandmother would listen to it all the time. I would sing with it as the songs played through. My grandmother died. I was looking through her stuff and found the tape. My dad heard me listening to it, but I wasn't singing. Later my dad brought the tape up and he said, 'Why don't you sing a couple songs for me'. I was older and my voice had changed a lot. My dad heard me sing and he just stared at me. No matter who I sing to everyone says I sound like Patsy Cline. I am a fan because it is something I shared with my grandmother, and I have developed a voice like Patsy."
  Melissa Hensley, Dec 8, 1998.
• "Hi, my name is Rose. I don't remember when or how I became a fan of Patsy Cline, but I know my sister loved her long before I was aware of her. So, I grew up on Patsy. I do know WHY I love her music, it's because she has a true quality to her voice. Other singers seem to have to work at having quality, Patsy had it totally naturally. She exuded quality. She made it sound so easy. When I listen to Patsy Cline's singing, you hear not only the music, but you hear her heart. The music just gets right inside you, like you share it with Patsy. You also share all the emotions she put into her music. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone but me, but I do know that I have never heard another voice I feel the same about."
  Rose Laessig, Nov 29, 1998.
• "My name is Janice Brittain and I am 30 years old. I have loved Patsy for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a very large family and never did quite fit in. My brothers and sisters were always up with the times and I was always way behind. While they listened to the latest Rock music I sat in my room with my moms old 8-track player listening to the great oldies like Loretta Lynn, Elvis, but most of all Patsy Cline. I was born a generation to late I think. Even now when we go out to Karoke I sing 'Walking After Midnight'. I have won a few small time contests but in my opinion no-one but no-one can sing Patsy Cline like Patsy Cline, I am a die hard fan and always will be. I also have three daughters that can sing most of Patsy's songs. The next 'Patsy generation'. She was and is a lady to be looked up to and is a great role model of strenght and courage for any young girl. Thank you for listening."
  Janice Brittain, Oct 25, 1998.
• "I am only 21, but I've been a die-hard Patsy fan forever. The one word I always use to describe her is 'golden'. Her voice just rolls through your body, as if she understands what your going through. I mostly admire her for her determination. She didn't sit around on her duff, but went out and worked hard and made it happen for her. I really don't know why I adore her so much, but I feel like she is very much a part of me."
  Suzy Lester, Oct 9, 1998.
• "I am not sure how old I was when I started hearing Patsy's music, but I remember as I grew older how much I cherished it. I live near Winchester, VA and have been here most of my life. I have worked at many hotels in the area and directed many tourists to the cemetery where she is buried, and have visited it many times myself. Everytime I hear one of her songs I swell up with pride knowing that she was from my hometown. I don't know if most people know it, but she also lived in a town near here named Gore, VA, and well, that is where I spent the first 5 years of my life and where alot of my family still live. My stepmother went to her wedding to Charlie Dick, and a girl I used to date, her father used to dance with Patsy on stage at the Rainbow Club where Patsy used to sing. I really do love her music and I know that the music world and the rest of us really miss her. I was only three when she died and that was 35 years ago but her music still lives on today and forever. Patsy, we all love u and miss u very much. Thank u for letting me write, and for this page in tribute to one of the greatest ever."
  Chuck Whitacre, Oct 8, 1998.
• "Patsy Cline died 3 years before I was born but through her music I feel I know her. I learned about Patsy Cline through Loretta Lynn's book, 'Coal Miner's Daughter' and saw the movie. I remember my mom had an old record called 'Famous Original Hits by 25 Great Country Music Artists' that was put out in the 1960's to help build the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Patsy's 'I Fall to Pieces' is on it. That was the first Patsy song I ever heard. I still have that record. Ever since I was about 4 or 5 years old I've been a Loretta Lynn fan. I was fascinated by her friend Patsy Cline and had to learn everything about her that I could. I bought Patsy's 'Greatest Hits' album and played it to death. I also ordered the book by Ellis Nassour, 'Patsy Cline', in 1982 and read it cover to cover. I just had to know all I could about Patsy so I wrote to the Johnsons, who ran Loretta's fan club then, and asked if there was a Patsy fan club. They gave me the address for the old Patsy fan club run by Jimmie Bowen. I immediately joined and later on joined the new Always Patsy Cline Club. I've made a lot of friends through Patsy Cline. She has been there for me with her music through some hard times. I get a special feeling whenever I listen to Patsy that will never go away. She's truly a friend."
  Kelly Small, Oct 3, 1998.
• "When I was a little girl my, my dad played the guitar and mom and he would sit down and sing all of their favorite country songs together. My mother was rather shy and wouldn't do this very often but when she did it was always something by Patsy or Loretta. She loved 'I Fall to Pieces'. I grew up in the country music scene as my father played in a local country western band. My father was an alcoholic and our family went through some really hard times so as a child, I had certain things that brought me joy and one of those things just happened to be the times my parents were sitting around singing these old songs together. It seemed to cause a sentimental atmosphere in our home that allowed them to show their love to oneanother. My father died when I was 18 of a heart attack and mom was widowed at the age of 41. Now as I look back on the times of my youth and remember the 'good' times it often makes me think of Patsy Clines songs. In a way, she had a part in bringing some happiness and good memories to a life that would have otherwise been pretty downtrodden. Thank You Patsy Cline for the joy you helped to bring to others in the short time that you were allowed to walk upon the earth."
  Cynthia Jo Paschka, Sep 9, 1998.
• "My name is Linda McCarthy and I am 20 years old. My mother has always loved country music. Her two favorites are Patsy Cline and Conway Twitty. When I was younger, and she would listen to country music, I used to always say, 'eeww, mom shut this off'. But it was a different story when I got older. I came to realize how emotional her songs are and I fell in love with them. Now, I listen to country music all the time. When my fiancé and I first got together, he had the same response as I did when I was younger. But now, he sings along with all the country songs on the radio. I hope that more people will realize what wonderful music Patsy Cline made. I am just sorry that Patsy and Conway passed on before I was mature enough to embrace their music. I would have loved to see either of them in concert. Here's to Patsy Cline and Conway Twitty, we all miss you!!!!!"
  Linda McCarthy, Sep 1, 1998.
• "My name is Tony Le Fournour, an Australian working and living in Hong Kong. It's amazing, but both here and in Malaysia, where I worked before, music shops in both countries have a large selection of Patsy's stuff. The 4 CD set is quite prominent. I first heard Patsy when I was 14 years old, back in 1960 when 'I fall to pieces' came out. I suppose I was hooked then. I would have to say I really enjoyed subsequent songs that came out on the radio. What can one say that hasn't been said already by all you fans. She is the best! The song that is one of my alltime favourites is 'When I get thru with you'. At age about 16, I was growing up in my home town in Western Australia called Geraldton. I would have to be fair and say the music played on the local radio station wasn't too good. You had to try and pick up the top 40 stations from the big city of Perth 300 plus miles away to hear any decent music. The other alternative was the jukebox. My friends and I used to hang out in a particular "Milk Bar' as we called them, you know the kind of place, milkshakes, coffee, pinball machines, 8 ball tables, real innocent stuff, but if Brother Murphy, the principal of the Christian Brothers College caught us there, it was instant expulstion and you went straight to hell, not necessarily in that order.

  Anyway, we were spending our hard earned pocket money on the only things you could do in Geraldton, my mates playing the pinball machines and me browsing the juke box. There it was, a Patsy Cline song I had never heard, 'When I get thru with you', so I played it. Then I played it again and again and again till my money ran out. Next weekend the same thing. I think it was then that I realised she could sing anything... That belief is with me today. Do you know, I didn't hear that song again until maybe 7 years ago when I bought the 4 CD set. I searched all the Patsy albums I could find, no luck for so long. Was it worth it? I reckon so. In my opinion, when your favourite male singer refers to your favourite female singer in one of his songs, it proves how great Patsy IS. I refer to the Jimmy Buffett song 'MISS YOU SO BADLY' from his 'CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITUDES' album. Please allow me to quote the pertinent lines. My apologies to Mr. Buffett for any mistakes I make... 'I'VE GOT A HEART FULL OF FEELING BLUER AND AN EAR FULL OF PATSY CLINE... THERE AIN'T NO ONE ELSE CAN TOUCH HER... HELL I HANG ON EVERY LINE... CRAZY HOW IT HAPPENS' etc. etc. Check it out. Keep the faith all you fans!"
  Tony Le Fournour, Aug 26, 1998.

• "I became A Patsy Cline fan when I was five years old. My father worked driving a truck. He told me one time, he was on his way home and he stopped at this little club. They were having talent night and the first person to perform was a little girl by the name of Patsy Cline. Well, they ended up dancing together after the show. My dad told me she wanted to be a singer and was trying to get her big break. Afterwards they said goodbye and he left for home. Later she did make it big. My father always remembered that night and he used to tell me the story all the time. He bought all her records and played them all the time. I was about five when I started hearing, and understanding them. I like all kinds of music, but those Patsy Cline slow songs just move me in a way thats hard to describe. My father is dead now, but when I want to think back, I put on a Patsy Cline album, and it takes me back to a special time in my life. I just love it. Thanks for taking the time to read this."
  Ray Lyell, Aug 11, 1998.
• "When I was three, my Grandmother and I were playing at her house. She used to always sing or hum different songs to me. Well, me being the outgoing person that I am, I walked up to her and started singing 'Walking After Midnight'. She started recording me singing the song. That summer they put me in a contest and I sang that song. I won 1st place out of about 200 people. From then on, I knew Patsy was the greatest country singer of all time. I am 21 and it surprises people when I say she is my favorite, but she is the best!!!!!!"
  Rachel O'Hara, Jul 28, 1998.
• "I just started becoming a fan of Patsy's this year. It started when I had seen Loretta Lynn's movie 'Coal Miner's Daughter'. I was actually a fan of Loretta's but I got a CD with Patsy and Loretta on it and I still was a bigger fan of Loretta's. Then I bought another Patsy CD, but was still a bigger fan of Loretta's. Then, when looking for the book 'Coal Miner's Daughter', instead, I found 'Honky Tonk Angel'. I decided to check that out of the library. I read the book and fell in love with Patsy's music. I am only 14 and have decided I would like to be the next Patsy Cline. The first song I think I heard was probably 'I Fall to Pieces'. I have been listening to Patsy for about 5 months and know over 20 of her songs."
  Willa Ross, Jul 26, 1998.
• "I'm sure I heard Patsy before I was born, My grandmother was a fan. The first song I remember hearing is 'Crazy'. I became a fan when my grandmother started showing signs of Alzheimer's disease. I bought a Patsy tape and learned the songs to sing to my grandmother, she never forgot the words, even when she didn't know us. Her eyes would light up and for a while she was yong again. I sang 'Crazy' at her funeral. My grandmother named her first daughter Patsy Ann after Patsy, she died when only days old. I never realized she was named after Patsy until my grandma started losing her memory. Paty's music became a way of comunicating with her. My son is a fan at the tender age of 3. When he was just an infant I played my tape for him. I rocked him to sleep to Patsy. If the tape ended before he was compleatly asleep he would scream until I turned it over. I have introduced Patsy's music to many people, and re-introduced it to my mom. My guitar teacher hates country music and anything that is not creative to his mind. I brought in a Patsy Cline CD and he says now that's real music, she has the best voice. He says it's natural and it comes from the heart."
  Kasee Becerra, Jul 20, 1998.
• "I was born in November 1963, and my mother was pregnant with me when Patsy died. It was about four years ago that I bought Patsy's greatest hits CD, I don't know why, and played it over and over. Her music was haunting to me, and although I knew that I had only actually heard one song on the CD before ('Crazy'), the music sounded somehow very familiar to me. I grew up all of my life in Brooklyn, New York, up north where country music is *never* played at all unless you are a fan. Not too many people are, and there was only one radio station that played country music, so it was not a part of my life.

  Anyway, Patsy's music and her voice drew me in... And the more I listened the more I felt I had heard them before even though I knew I hadn't! I couldn't figure it out! What I found out recently has made me understand it all, and feel an even closer connection to Patsy and my own mother. You see, my mother Barbara died in 1967 at the age of 26, when I was 3 1/2 years old. I have never known her and have very few memories of her because I was so young when she died. I mentioned my love for Patsy's music to her sister recently and she told me, 'Oh, how your mother loved her music too! The year Patsy died your mother was so heartbroken she played her albums over and over and cried.'

  Well, suddenly I understood why the music was so familiar to me... While I was growing inside my mom I was listening too! And when I was an infant she must have played it before she went away to the hospital when she got sick. The mother I never knew is long gone now, but somehow Patsy has brought us together, given us something we share that the years and the separation could never take away.....*Thank You Patsy!* Sing a song especially for my sweet angel mama up there in heaven with you. You'll both always be loved by me..."
  Linda M. Lazo, Jul 14, 1998.

• "My first Patsy Cline song I ever heard was 'Two cigarettes in an ashtray', three days before. And it said 'click'... I bought me the CD just because I love kd lang and her way of singing the 'Two cigarettes' song. My interest started when I read about kd lang's love for Patsy Cline... So, I just wanted to see what is so special about Patsy Cline? Never heard about her... Here in Germany... And now: I am a Patsy Cline Fan!"
  Inka Janssen, Jul 13, 1998.
• "Well, I guess the very first time that I had ever heard of Patsy Cline was at age 9 or 10. My mother was a fan and she had a cassette collection of Patsy. We would always listen to the tapes when we were riding around looking for my drunk father and when we were at home alone waiting for him. The tapes always seem to be about my mother's life at the time. They always fell right into place. It was a connection. Oh, and that wonderful voice of hers. It was a voice of experience and tale. Everything I have ever heard Patsy sing has always sounded so heartfelt and real. Not at all like most of today's music. I went on to learn most of her work and wanted to be her. At least I have always wanted to sound like her. I can for sure call her my idol. Through years of practice, I have been able to master techniqe. As for her sound, well, I sound great. However, no one will ever take Patsy's place. Her voice was truely godsent."
  Jessica Cluck, Jun 17, 1998.
• "I must start by saying I am lyric fanatic. A song to me is like a soliloquy. What a person says (sings) and how (s)he says it, always grabs my ear (and heart). The first time I heard Patsy sing was no different. It was a few years ago and ironically I was in a theatre. I was working on a one woman show for a graduating theatre major. Between each scene change she would play a song to set the tone for the next monologue. For the life of me I can not recall which Tenesse William's character she was using. There's only two things that can make one forget a Tenesse William's production: a bad actor or something just as mesmorising. I can not comment on the actress' talent, her performance escapes me. I was so distracted and haunted by this voice, I have erased all else from memory.

  I just remember this shell shocked weeping voice 'falling to pieces'. I was caught; locked in her grasp. I had been 'Clined'. For days I could not get over her voice, her emotion. Something had to give.

  About three months later, I was browsing old cassettes at a rest stop in Breezewood, Pa. I came across a Patsy Cline greatest hits cassette. I had to have it. All the way back to Washington (D.C.)I sang with Patsy. I was dead set on learning every word!

  It's been four or five years since that day and I have started collecting her music faithfully. I buy anything that has her name on it. My favorite songs are 'Crazy', 'Walking After Midnight', 'Never No More' and 'Faded Love'. I epecially love the heart aching sigh at the end of 'Faded Love'. I find myself catching my breath each time I hear her. As cliche as it may sound, there will only be one Patsy Cline, and that is part of the love affair with her."
  Heather Smith, May 6, 1998.

• "In April 1993, on my return trip from Florida, I was driving Hwy #81 North. I had brake failure 2 miles south of Wincester, VA. The tow truck driver towed my car into Wincester. As my car was being repaired, the repair shop manager lent me his car and told me to do the 'Cline Tour'. I agreed. In 1986, I heard Patsy sing on an LP for the first time and have been continuing enjoying her style of music and singing to date. Didn't really like country music till I heard 'the Cline' sing. The towns' people of Wincester warmly welcomed me when I told them where I was from and why I had to stop in Wincester. The restaurant manager bought my lunch for me. Told me where everything was, gave me a map and off I went. When I went to the cemetery where Patsy is interred, my heart was overwhelmed. Such a loss, and emptyness, a great void. Sounds funny but I'm glad my brakes failed on that return trip back to Canada. I couldn't think of a better place for it to have happened in. And to the town folks of Wincester 'THANKYOU! You are thought of often!' Moreover, Patsy you will never be forgotten. Your voice will echo over the world!"
  Dianne R. Connolly, Apr 2, 1998.
• "I have been singing as long as I can remember. At the age of nine, I started having dreams of being a star when my dad started singing in a country band. At a party, the band was playing some George Jones and Johnny Cash, when they brought a friend of the family up on stage to sing a song. She sang 'I Fall to Pieces'. I remember being very impressed and singing what I could remember of the song for days after that. I asked my mom who sang the song. Soon after, I made my parents buy me my first Patsy Cline tape. Being the sentimental person I have always been, I immediately fell in love with Patsy's emotional voice. I loved every song on the tape, and played it over and over. Listening to Patsy Cline so much must have influenced my own singing, because people began to tell me I sounded like her, even when I was singing pop music. This was when I started buying all of her music. I have found that there is a Patsy song for every emotion I am feeling. I felt like she was there when I got my heart broken. Nothing makes me feel better than singing along with Patsy when I am sad. She helps me remember that I am not alone. Now, I am a Patsy Cline impersonator. I mimic the voice that touches my heart in hopes that it will touch other people's hearts the same way. If I put every ounce of feeling into it that I can muster, I can almost imagine how Patsy felt when she was singing. My desire is to have half as much impact on others, as Patsy had on me. Love always,"
  Rachel Fenton, Feb 17, 1998.
• "My name is Alexander Linton and I'm 14 years old. One night about a year ago we were having a family get together at my aunt and uncle's house in Hudson, OH, and they were playing a bunch of Elvis cd's. Finally John (my uncle) put in a new cd in the cd player. Well, this lady came on singing 'Walking After Midnight'. It just stopped my girlfriend from dancing when she started singing. I just stood there in the family room and shouted 'who in the world is this'. It scared the hell out of my grandma (Lillian) and my girlfriend (Sarah) because I had shouted so loud. My uncle said 'that's Patsy Cline, a country and pop singer from the late 50's and early 60's.' I started hollerin' and stompin' for more. We played Patsy Cline for a long time that night. It had gotten so late Sarah and me just slept there and we played P.C. almost all night. Sarah is about 7 months pregnant but she can still dance real well to Patsy Cline's music. During the last few months I have gotten a bunch of Cline's records and I've read 'I Fall To Pieces', 'Honky Tonk Angel' and I have watched 'Sweet Dreams' and 'Coal Miner's Daughter' a lot of times."
  Alexander Linton, Feb 14, 1998.
• "Hello, my name is Reid and I'm 14 years old. I'm using my friends computer to go on the net. I was always curious of seeing if there was a web page about the legendary Patsy Cline. I love her music!! I got into her music about a year ago by watching the movie 'Sweet Dreams' and watching the biography movie of Loretta Lynn. I also read the book 'I Fall to Pieces'. I was so deeply touched by the music that she sang, that I started to listen to her albums every night. After listening to her albums I've grown to love her music even more. It was so sad to see such a legendary country star to die so tragic. I wish that she was still alive, because she has influenced a lot of super country stars like Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn, LeAnn Rimes etc. When LeAnn Rimes made her top debut single 'Blue', I was so surprised that she not only sang a song that was written for Patsy 30 years ago, but how it seemed that LeAnn sounded just like Patsy. She had that same strong voice and I felt as if Patsy was in the same room as me. It gave me goosebumps just to hear her sing it. So in conclusion, thank you for taking the time to read this. I enjoyed sharing my feelings about Patsy Cline with y'all. But there will be no other than the Legendary and Queen of Country, Patsy Cline."
  Reid Kuranaga
• "I first noticed her on the T.V. when I was real little. I just dropped my toys and stared at her and the way she moved. It really did something to me, cause I will never forget her. As I grew up, my memory of Patsy sort of faded, but when I watched 'Sweet Dreams' it all came back. I then bought 'The Patsy Cline Story'. I just loved it! I then experienced with Patsy's songs and started writing my own. I came up with 'I Cry, Cry'. The first sentence of the song is 'Some days I cry and I don't know why, I guess it's just you'. I don't know if they are any good, but I think so. I started singing her songs and put on a 'Patsy Cline Music Special'. I still put it on, and it is my favorite thing to do. I then bought more music and this last summer I bought a Patsy Cline t-shirt, and wear it constantly, and I'm wearing it as I type this! When I hit 7th grade I hid that I liked Patsy Cline. I pretened I liked Marilyn Manson instead. I then reached 8th grade (the grade I'm in now), and on the first day I went to school, I wore my P.C. t-shirt. Not only was I made fun of, it ruined my entire day! I wear it anyways and I tell'em where to go! So now I'm not afraid of showing that I like Patsy Cline and if anyone says 'Who cares about Patsy Cline', well, I will tell them to keep adoring some rock band or rap group, and that no one can tell me who to like and who not to like. But I will tell them this: I will like Patsy Cline. Always have, and always will."
  Patsy Virginia Walen, Jan 2, 1998.