Patsy Cline Play Dates In Brunswick, Maine

The life and music of Patsy Cline, one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century, is celebrated in Brunswick, Maine. Cline, born Virginia Patterson Hensley, was an American singer from Virginia, who is considered a major influence on the country music industry. She was the first female solo artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick pays tribute to her iconic voice with the musical Always... Patsy Cline, which chronicles her rise to fame and includes many of her hits, such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, and Walkin' After Midnight. The show has been performed by various artists over the years, including Christine Mild, who played Patsy in the original production.

Patsy Cline's performance at the Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick

The musical showcases Cline's journey from a young girl with a passion for singing to becoming one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. It highlights her early performances at local radio stations and her rise to fame with her first recording contract in 1954. The audience is taken on a journey through Cline's personal life, including her marriages and the birth of her children, as well as her professional successes and the impact she had on country music.

"Always... Patsy Cline" is more than just a musical; it is a celebration of a true country music icon. The show captures the essence of Patsy Cline, from her bold and powerful voice to her emotional delivery of lyrics. The production features talented performers who bring Cline's story to life, backed by a band that does justice to her timeless songs. The set and costume designs transport the audience back to the era, creating an immersive experience.

The Maine State Music Theatre's production of "Always... Patsy Cline" received positive reviews and was well-received by the audience. The show not only entertained but also paid homage to a legendary artist whose influence continues to be felt in country music and beyond.

Patsy Cline's influence on country music

Patsy Cline is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and was one of the first country music artists to cross over into pop music. She is frequently invoked as a standard for female vocalists and has inspired scores of singers, including k.d. lang, Loretta Lynn, Linda Ronstadt, Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sara Evans.

Cline's unique, crying style and vocal impeccability established her reputation as the quintessential torch singer. Her emotional expression and delivery of lyrics helped influence various musical genres and artists. With the support of producer Owen Bradley, Cline has been said to have "helped define" the Nashville Sound style of country music. Cline's style has been largely associated with the Nashville Sound, a sub-genre of country music that linked traditional lyrics with orchestrated pop music styles. This new sound helped many of her singles to crossover onto the Billboard Hot 100 and gain a larger audience that did not always listen to country music.

Cline possessed a contralto voice that has been called "bold", "powerful", and "emotional". Her voice has also been praised for its display of emotion. Cline was at times taken by her own emotion. Her husband Charlie Dick recounted that Cline's producer Owen Bradley told him to leave a recording session because she was very emotional and he didn't want to disturb the mood. Cline was once quoted in describing the emotion she felt, saying, "Oh Lord, I sing just like I hurt inside."

Cline's public image changed during the course of her career. She began her career wearing cowgirl dresses and hats designed by her mother. However, as her music crossed over into pop, she began wearing sequined gowns and cocktail dresses. While she would often wear cowgirl costumes for live performances, she would also wear evening dresses for television and metropolitan performances.

Cline has also been seen as a pioneer for women in country music. She has been cited as an inspiration by many performers in diverse styles of music. Kurt Wolff of Country Music: The Rough Guide said that Cline had an "aggression" and "boisterous attitude" that gained her the respect of her male counterparts. Wolff explained,

> She swaggered her way past stereotypes and other forces of resistance, showing the men in charge – and the public in general – that women were more than capable of singing about such hard subjects as divorce and drinking as well as love and understanding.

Sean O'Hagan of The Guardian commented that along with Minnie Pearl, Jean Shepard, and Kitty Wells, Cline helped prove that country music was not "macho" and that "strong women" could have a "strong voice". In 2013, Diane Reese wrote, "she was what I call a pre-feminist woman. She didn't open doors; she kicked them down." Mary Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann wrote in 2003 that Cline "transformed what it meant to be a female country star".

Cline's early career

Patsy Cline, born Virginia Patterson Hensley, began her career in music at a young age. By the time she was 13, she had developed a passion for singing after a throat infection left her with a "booming voice". At 14, she was singing regularly on local radio station WINC, and at 15, she wrote a letter to the Grand Ole Opry asking for an audition.

Cline's first professional performances were at local radio station WINC, and she continued to perform around the local area in her teens. In 1952, she auditioned for and joined local country bandleader Bill Peer's group, Bill Peer's Melody Boys and Girls. She met her first husband, Gerald Cline, while performing with the group.

In 1954, Cline signed her first recording contract with Four Star Records. Her first single release was "A Church, a Courtroom, Then Goodbye" in 1955. Between 1955 and 1956, Cline's four singles for Four Star Records failed to become hits, but she continued performing regionally. In 1957, she made her first national television appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, performing "Walkin' After Midnight", which became her first major hit on both the country and pop charts.

Cline's follow-up singles with Four Star Records were unsuccessful, and she was dissatisfied with the limited success following "Walkin' After Midnight". She was fired from her regular slot on Town and Country Jamboree and, in 1957, she married her second husband, Charlie Dick, and gave birth to her first daughter. The family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to further her career.

By the early 1960s, Cline's professional decisions were yielding more positive results. She signed with Decca Records in 1960 and her first release with the label, "I Fall to Pieces", became her first song to top the Billboard country chart.

Cline's legacy and recognition

Patsy Cline is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and was one of the first country music artists to cross over into pop music. Her legacy and recognition are evident in the following ways:

Awards and Recognition

In 1973, Cline became the first female performer inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1995, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Cline's hits "I Fall to Pieces" and "Crazy" were also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1993, she was included on US postal stamps as part of their "Legends" series. In 1999, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Cline was also ranked 11th among VH1's "100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll" in 1999 and 12th on Rolling Stone's 2017 list of the "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time".

Influence on Other Artists

Cline has been cited as an influence by many performers across diverse musical styles, including Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn, LeAnn Rimes, k.d. lang, Linda Ronstadt, Trisha Yearwood, Sara Evans, Dottie West, Kacey Musgraves, Cyndi Lauper, Trixie Mattel, and Brandi Carlile. Lynn, a close friend of Cline's, considered her both a mentor and a close friend, stating, "She taught me a lot about show business... She even bought me a lot of clothes." Lynn also noted that Cline gave her underwear, which she still has stored away.

Impact on Country Music

Cline has been recognised as a pioneer for women in country music, helping prove that the genre was not "macho" and that strong women could have a "strong voice". She was the first female country artist to headline her own show in Las Vegas and the first artist to join the Grand Ole Opry without being invited. Cline's music also found success on both the country and pop charts, an achievement that many artists still aspire to match.

Posthumous Success and Cultural Impact

Cline's music and legacy continued to gain recognition and success after her death. Her greatest hits album sold over 10 million copies in 2005. The 1985 biopic "Sweet Dreams", starring Jessica Lange, renewed interest in her life and career. The musical "Always... Patsy Cline" has been performed across the US since its premiere in 1988. In 2011, Cline's childhood home in Winchester, Virginia, was restored and opened to the public as a museum. Additionally, the Patsy Cline Museum opened in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017, showcasing her stage costumes, scrapbooks, and other artefacts.

Cline's performance at the Brunswick Moose Lodge

On September 27, 1952, Patsy Cline performed at the Brunswick Moose Lodge in Maryland. This was her debut performance with Bill Peer and His Melody Boys. On October 10, 1952, Cline met her future husband, Gerald Cline, at the Brunswick Moose Lodge. The couple married on March 7, 1953, in the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ in Frederick. They had two children together.

Patsy Cline performed regularly at the Brunswick Moose Lodge, later taking to the stage with Jimmy Dean and Roy Clark. Their performance aimed to raise money to help the local Stair family pay for the medical procedures needed to save one of their children, who had suffered severe burns when her dress caught fire.

Patsy Cline's performances at the Brunswick Moose Lodge were among her first as a professional musician. Her career would go on to great success, with Cline becoming one of the first country music artists to cross over into pop music. She is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century and was the first female solo artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973.

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