Patsy Cline
September 8, 1932 - March 5, 1963
Patsy Cline finally has her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The
Winchester born singer was honored with the 2,141st memorial on the famed
Hollywood Boulevard sidewalk in Los Angeles. Cline's husband, Charlie Dick and
her daughter, Julie Fudge were on hand while 150 fans watched the unveiling. Her
memorial is between the stars for Yul Brynner and Barry Sullivan.
Born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Winchester, VA on September 8, 1932. At the encouragement of her first manager, Bill Peer, she changed her name to Patsy. After her marriage to Gerald Cline, her name became Patsy Cline.
When Patsy was a little girl, she wanted to be a dancer. She idolized Shirley Temple and even won 1st Prize in a children's dance competition. But when her interest turned toward music, she left her dancing shoes behind and concentrated on her voice and the piano. Teaching herself to play by ear, Patsy never properly learned to read music.
On September 15, 1957, not long after her first marriage ended in divorce, Patsy married Charlie Dick. They had two children, Julie and Randy.
Patsy's first major recognition as a country singer took place on "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" in 1957. This was the first time many people saw her perform.
Honey,
Patsy Cline's tragic death in 1963 was preceded by two other close calls. Her
first brush with death was a serious case of rheumatic fever when she was 13.
Patsy recalled the ironic fortune this illness brought her: "The fever
affected my throat and when I recovered I had this booming voice like Kate Smith's."
In 1961, Patsy and her brother Sam were involved in a head-on car collision that nearly cost Patsy her life. As a result of the accident, Patsy had a large scar on her forehead that prompted her to wear wigs at her public appearances.
On March 5, 1963 Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas and Randy Hughes (all Grand Ole Opry stars) were killed in a plane crash after attending a benefit concert in Kansas City. Just before her departure to Nashville, Ray Walker of the Jordonaires told Patsy to be careful. Her last words to him were prophetic: " I've been into two bad ones...the third one will be a charm or it will kill me."
In 1973 Patsy Cline was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame - the first
of many recognitions Ms. Cline would receive for her talent. Other tributes to
the country music legend include the movies "Coal Miner's Daughter" (which
highlights the life of Patsy's close friend, Loretta Lynn, and includes an
appearance by Beverly D'Angelo as Patsy Cline) and "Sweet Dreams" (a
biographical look at the singer's rise to fame starring Jessica Lange). 
The Patsy Cline Committee of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce is committed to perpetuating the memory of Patsy Cline through the establishment of a Patsy Cline Museum in Winchester, Virginia.
Pictures credits:
- From the collection of Guy Cesario Courtesy of the Country Music Foundation
- Photo by Hal Bukstaum
- Photo by Les Leverett
Patsy Cline on the Web:
http://www.celebratingpatsycline.org/