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'''Dottie West''', born '''Dorothy Marie Marsh''' ([[October 11]] [[1932]] in [[McMinnville, Tennessee]]–[[September 4]] [[1991]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]) was a [[United States]] [[country music]] [[singer]], widely hailed as one of its greatest vocalists and pioneers.
'''Dottie West''', born '''Dorothy Marie Marsh''' ([[October 11]] [[1932]] in [[McMinnville, Tennessee]]–[[September 4]] [[1991]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]) was a [[United States]] [[country music]] [[singer]], widely hailed as one of its greatest vocalists and pioneers.


==Career==
Dottie West was one of country music's most popular female vocalists for more than three decades. She began her career in local venues in [[Cleveland, Ohio]] in the mid [[1950s]]. She and her husband, steel guitarist [[Bill West]], moved to [[Nashville, Tennessee]] in 1959 and she began recording and making personal appearances with a number of major stars including [[Patsy Cline]], who became her closest friend. It was not until [[1963 in country music|1963]], however, that West's career took off when she signed to [[RCA Records]]. She made the top ten twice in [[1964 in country music|1964]], a duet with [[Jim Reeves]] titled "Love is No Excuse" and a solo "Here Comes My Baby Back Again" which won her a [[Grammy]] award for [[Best Female Country Vocal Performance]]. West would eventually earned 16 Grammy nominations including further Best Female Country Vocal nominations in 1965, 1967, 1968, 1973, and 1974.
===The RCA years===
Dottie West was one of country music's most popular female vocalists for more than three decades. She began her career in local venues in [[Cleveland, Ohio]] in the mid [[1950s]]. She and her husband, steel guitarist [[Bill West]], moved to [[Nashville, Tennessee]] in 1959 and she began recording and making personal appearances with a number of major stars including [[Patsy Cline]], who became her closest friend. It was not until [[1963 in country music|1963]], however, that West's career took off when she signed to [[RCA Records]]. She made the top ten twice in [[1964 in country music|1964]], a duet with [[Jim Reeves]] titled "Love is No Excuse" and a solo "Here Comes My Baby" which won her a [[Grammy]] award for [[Best Female Country Vocal Performance]]. West would eventually earned 16 Grammy nominations including further Best Female Country Vocal nominations in 1965, 1967, 1968, 1973, and 1974.


[[image:westcareless.jpg|right|thumb|Dottie West's 1971 RCA album ''Careless Hands'']]
[[image:westcareless.jpg|right|thumb|Dottie West's 1971 RCA album ''Careless Hands'']]


West remained with RCA through [[1975 in country music|1975]], chalking up such hits as "Let Me off at the corner" ([[1965 in country music|1965]]), "Paper Mansions" ([[1967 in country music|1967]]), "Country Girl" ([[1968 in country music|1968]]), "Careless Hands" ([[1969 in country music|1969]]), "If It's All Right with You" ([[1970 in country music|1970]]), "Country Sunshine" ([[1973 in country music|1973]]), and "Last Time I Saw Him" (also a pop and R&B hit for [[Diana Ross]]) ([[1974 in country music|1974]]) . "Country Sunshine" became her themesong and was used in a popular [[Coca-Cola]] commercial; the song won the [[1973]] [[Clio Award]] as the year's best advertising song.
West remained with RCA through [[1975 in country music|1975]], chalking up such hits as "Let Me Off at the Corner" ([[1965 in country music|1965]]), "Would You Hold It Against Me" ([[1966 in country music|1966]]), "Paper Mansions" ([[1967 in country music|1967]]), "Country Girl" ([[1968 in country music|1968]]), "Careless Hands" ([[1969 in country music|1969]]), "If It's All Right with You" ([[1970 in country music|1970]]), "Country Sunshine" ([[1973 in country music|1973]]), and "Last Time I Saw Him" (also a pop and R&B hit for [[Diana Ross]]) ([[1974 in country music|1974]]). "Country Sunshine" became her theme song and was used in a popular [[Coca-Cola]] commercial; the song won the [[1973]] [[Clio Award]] as the year's best advertising song.


During the late 1960s, West recorded a series of duets with singer-songwriter [[Don Gibson]]. Their two biggest hits were "Rings of Gold" ([[1969 in country music|1969]]) and "There's a Story Goin' 'Round" ([[1970 in country music|1970]]).
She moved to the [[United Artists Records]] label in 1976 and shot to new levels of stardom beginning in [[1978 in country music|1978]] with a series of duets with [[Kenny Rogers]] which earned them five hit singles and two top 10 albums, as well as multiple awards including the [[Country Music Association]]'s Duet of the Year award. West's solo work during this period was also successful and included the number one records "A Lesson in Leavin'" ([[1980 in country music|1980]]) and "Are You Happy Baby" ([[1981 in country music|1981]]). Around this same time, West updated her image, trading in her conservative gingham checked dresses for a "sexier" look that included skintight [[spandex]] [[jumpsuit]]s. At this time she went from being known as "Little Miss Fireball" to "Lady Airbrush" virtually overnight.


===The United Artists years===
In 1981, age 48, Dottie West reached the peak of her career with two number ones including the top 15 pop crossover "What are We Doin' in Love", another duet with Rogers. Her daughter [[Shelly West]] also became a country music star during this period (her first hit was "Jose Cuervo" about the morning after drinking too much tequilla), but Shelly has not recorded since the mid-1980s [http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/west_shelly/bio.jhtml].
She moved to the [[United Artists Records]] label in 1976, where she changed musical directions. She exchanged her signature [[Nashville sound]] for a decidely [[middle of the road|MOR]], pop-influenced sound.


After a series of modest hits with her new musical direction, her pairing with [[Kenny Rogers]] helped shoot West to new levels of superstardom. Starting in [[1978 in country music|1978]], she and Rogers amassed five hit singles and two top 10 albums, as well as multiple awards including the [[Country Music Association]]'s Duet of the Year award.
Dottie West's recording career started a downward spiral with the release of 1982's "Full Circle", produced by her one-time protege [[Larry Gatlin]] which was poorly received. Her last record, "We Know Better Now", was released in [[1985 in country music|1985]]. Mounting debts forced the singer to file for bankruptcy in 1990 but ever the survivor, West vowed to fight her way back to the top which she might well have accomplished had she not been in a car accident in August [[1991 in country music|1991]] which claimed her life the following week. She is buried in her hometown beside her mother.


West's solo work finally caught on by late 1979, reaching the top 10 for the first time in five years in December with "You Pick Me Up (And Put Me Down)." The follow-up release - [[1980 in country music|1980]]'s "A Lesson in Leavin'" - was even more successful; the song was her first solo No. 1 hit.

She reached No. 1 again in [[1981 in country music|1981]] with "Are You Happy Baby" ([[1981 in country music|1981]]).

In 1981, age 48, Dottie West reached the peak of her career with two No. 1s - her solo "Are You Happy Baby" and another duet with Rogers in "What Are We Doin' in Love." The latter song was also their biggest pop hit, reaching the top 15 of the ''[[Billboard magazine]]'' Hot 100 chart.

Around this same time, West updated her image, trading in her conservative gingham checked dresses for a "sexier" look that included skintight [[spandex]] [[jumpsuit]]s. At this time she went from being known as "Little Miss Fireball" to "Lady Airbrush" virtually overnight.

West's daughter, [[Shelly West]], also became a country music star during this period (her first hit was "Jose Cuervo" about the morning after drinking too much tequilla), but Shelly has not recorded since the mid-1980s [http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/west_shelly/bio.jhtml].

===Decline and death===
Dottie West's recording career started a downward spiral with the release of 1982's "Full Circle", produced by her one-time protege [[Larry Gatlin]] which was poorly received. Her last record, "We Know Better Now", was released in [[1985 in country music|1985]].

Mounting debts forced the singer to file for bankruptcy in 1990. But citing a survivor-like attitude, West vowed to fight her way back to the top which she might well have accomplished had she not been in a car accident in August [[1991 in country music|1991]], which claimed her life the following week. She is buried in her hometown beside her mother.

==Other media==
West was portrayed by actress [[Michele Lee]] in the hit [[television movie|TV Movie]] titled ''Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story''.
West was portrayed by actress [[Michele Lee]] in the hit [[television movie|TV Movie]] titled ''Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story''.


West appeared as a guest in The Dukes of Hazzard, Season 3 "By-line, Daisy Duke" Episode.
West appeared as a guest in a Season 3 episode of ''[[The Dukes of Hazzard]]'' - "By-line, Daisy Duke."


==External link==
==External link==

Revision as of 23:07, 31 July 2006

Dottie West, born Dorothy Marie Marsh (October 11 1932 in McMinnville, TennesseeSeptember 4 1991 in Nashville, Tennessee) was a United States country music singer, widely hailed as one of its greatest vocalists and pioneers.

Career

The RCA years

Dottie West was one of country music's most popular female vocalists for more than three decades. She began her career in local venues in Cleveland, Ohio in the mid 1950s. She and her husband, steel guitarist Bill West, moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1959 and she began recording and making personal appearances with a number of major stars including Patsy Cline, who became her closest friend. It was not until 1963, however, that West's career took off when she signed to RCA Records. She made the top ten twice in 1964, a duet with Jim Reeves titled "Love is No Excuse" and a solo "Here Comes My Baby" which won her a Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. West would eventually earned 16 Grammy nominations including further Best Female Country Vocal nominations in 1965, 1967, 1968, 1973, and 1974.

File:Westcareless.jpg
Dottie West's 1971 RCA album Careless Hands

West remained with RCA through 1975, chalking up such hits as "Let Me Off at the Corner" (1965), "Would You Hold It Against Me" (1966), "Paper Mansions" (1967), "Country Girl" (1968), "Careless Hands" (1969), "If It's All Right with You" (1970), "Country Sunshine" (1973), and "Last Time I Saw Him" (also a pop and R&B hit for Diana Ross) (1974). "Country Sunshine" became her theme song and was used in a popular Coca-Cola commercial; the song won the 1973 Clio Award as the year's best advertising song.

During the late 1960s, West recorded a series of duets with singer-songwriter Don Gibson. Their two biggest hits were "Rings of Gold" (1969) and "There's a Story Goin' 'Round" (1970).

The United Artists years

She moved to the United Artists Records label in 1976, where she changed musical directions. She exchanged her signature Nashville sound for a decidely MOR, pop-influenced sound.

After a series of modest hits with her new musical direction, her pairing with Kenny Rogers helped shoot West to new levels of superstardom. Starting in 1978, she and Rogers amassed five hit singles and two top 10 albums, as well as multiple awards including the Country Music Association's Duet of the Year award.

West's solo work finally caught on by late 1979, reaching the top 10 for the first time in five years in December with "You Pick Me Up (And Put Me Down)." The follow-up release - 1980's "A Lesson in Leavin'" - was even more successful; the song was her first solo No. 1 hit.

She reached No. 1 again in 1981 with "Are You Happy Baby" (1981).

In 1981, age 48, Dottie West reached the peak of her career with two No. 1s - her solo "Are You Happy Baby" and another duet with Rogers in "What Are We Doin' in Love." The latter song was also their biggest pop hit, reaching the top 15 of the Billboard magazine Hot 100 chart.

Around this same time, West updated her image, trading in her conservative gingham checked dresses for a "sexier" look that included skintight spandex jumpsuits. At this time she went from being known as "Little Miss Fireball" to "Lady Airbrush" virtually overnight.

West's daughter, Shelly West, also became a country music star during this period (her first hit was "Jose Cuervo" about the morning after drinking too much tequilla), but Shelly has not recorded since the mid-1980s [1].

Decline and death

Dottie West's recording career started a downward spiral with the release of 1982's "Full Circle", produced by her one-time protege Larry Gatlin which was poorly received. Her last record, "We Know Better Now", was released in 1985.

Mounting debts forced the singer to file for bankruptcy in 1990. But citing a survivor-like attitude, West vowed to fight her way back to the top which she might well have accomplished had she not been in a car accident in August 1991, which claimed her life the following week. She is buried in her hometown beside her mother.

Other media

West was portrayed by actress Michele Lee in the hit TV Movie titled Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story.

West appeared as a guest in a Season 3 episode of The Dukes of Hazzard - "By-line, Daisy Duke."