cover image Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline

Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline

Ellis Nassour. St. Martin's Press, $22.95 (270pp) ISBN 978-0-312-08870-5

This memorable biography of one of country music's most enduring legends is a revised abridgment of Patsy Cline , published in 1981. According to Nassour, Cline (1932-1963) was the first woman to demonstrate that country music could appeal to a wide audience. Bold and ambitious, she was a free-living, earthy performer whom producers sometimes found difficult to work with. She apparently had few close friends, but she showed generosity to any number of people, particularly talented young women singers such as Dottie West and Loretta Lynn. Her long-term association with producer Bill McCall was, financially, ``probably the single biggest mistake Patsy made in her professional life,'' claims Nassour, but he gives McCall great credit for promoting Cline's career. Although Cline died in a plane crash 30 years ago, her musical influence has persisted. Photos not seen by PW. (Feb.)