08/09/2025
Today in Sam's Spotlight Single we celebrate Patsy Cline.
In 1932, Virginia Hensley is born in Wi******er, Virginia. As Patsy Cline, she becomes one of country's definitive female vocalists. Her hits began in 1957 with Donn Hecht's and Alan Block's "Walkin' After Midnight", Hank Cochran's and Harlan Howard's "I Fall to Pieces", Hank Cochran's "She's Got You", Willie Nelson's "Crazy" and ended in 1963 with Don Gibson's "Sweet Dreams". She died aged 30 on March 5, 1963 at the height of her career in a private plane crash. She was one of the most influential, successful and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century. Ten years after her death, in 1973, she became the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
"Walkin' After Midnight" is a song written by Alan Block and Don Hecht and recorded by American country music artist Patsy Cline. The song was originally given to pop singer Kay Starr, but her label rejected it. The song was left unused until Hecht rediscovered it when writing for Four Star Records. Originally, Cline was not fond of "Walkin' After Midnight", but after making a compromise with her label, she recorded it.
In January 1957, Cline performed the song on an episode of the CBS television program Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. It garnered a strong response from viewers, so was rush-released as a single on February 11, 1957. "Walkin' After Midnight" became Cline's first major hit single, reaching number two on the Billboard country music chart and number 12 on its pop chart. Although the song was her only hit until 1961, the single version sold over one million copies and is often included on authoritative lists of the all-time greatest songs in country music.
a tribute to the wonderful legend.
