Dottie West

Location:
US
Type:
Artist / Band / Musician
Genre:
Country / Pop
You couldnt blame Dottie West for singing a song of heartbreak. Her life was filled with it. During her 59 years, the country legend lifted herself out of abject poverty and years of domestic cruelty to rise to the top of the music world. Dorothy Marie Marsh was born in Tennessee on October 11, 1932. A survivor at heart, Dottie lived through a childhood of savage beatings and sexual abuse from her father. The always hopeful Dottie was always dreaming of making a profession out of singing. While in college Dottie meet her first husband Bill West, who would give her her name. Together the couple would get gigs on local tv and clubs. it wasn't until the success of Dottie’s singles "Angel on Paper" and "Let Me Off At the Corner" did Dottie start to make a name for herself. Those minor hits were followed by a top 10 hit with Jim Reeves called "Love Is No Excuse." There was no doubt that Dottie west was one of the hottest rising stars and her follow up hit "Here Comes My Baby" proved it. Dottie made history by becoming the 1st female to ever win a Grammy in Country Music. Throughout the sixties, seventies, and eighties Dottie pumped out chart toppers like no other. In 1978 she teamed up with Kenny Rogers for a series of duets. It was at this time that Dottie West became the Queen Of Duets she had 5 singing partners including Jim Reeves & Don Gibson. But without a doubt it was Kenny that helped take her to the top! She was selling out concerts, selling millions of records, staring in movies, winning Grammies, Clieos and any other kind of awards you can think of. There is no doubt that the little girl from Tennessee came a long way. Dottie West earned herself the respect of everyone in the music industry and countless fans. She was always looking out for others and going out of her way to do things for fans, family and friends. Regardless of her success, Dottie's personal life started to spiral downward. Second and third marriages both to younger men failed. Dottie seemed determined to attract some sort of shelter for her painful past. Her luck did not prevail. She was sued in 1990 by her manager after concert dates began drying up. During the summer of 1990, her lavish home seized and auctioned, as were her car and personal property. Dottie West bellowed on her survival while she watched her possessions taken at auction. She bid on her own things during this embarrassing sale of her career memontos and funiture. Bad investments, extravagant living, & a bad accountant took Dottie into bankruptcy. She planned a comeback including a new album of duets with friends old & new. On August 30. 1991 Dottie was scheduled to perform on the Grand Ole Opry but was running late due to car trouble. Dottie accepted a ride from a friend. On route to the Opry the friend lost control of the car & crashed. Dottie struggled to survive once again, but succumbed to her injuries less than a week after the accident Dottie West was dead at age 59. Dottie West will always be the ultimate Countrysunshine girl of Country music. In 2000, West was also honored with the BMI Golden Voice Awards with the "Female Golden Legacy Award". She was the second woman to win this type of BMI award, the first being her friend and mentor Patsy Cline. Today, her hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee holds a "Dottie West Music Festival" each year in October. West was ranked 23 in Country Music Television's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music in 2002. In November 2003, CMT television voted West on their special countdown of the 40 Greatest Fashion Statements in Country Music at 32 for her tight spandex outfits from the 1980s. They called her outfit, "the weapon of mass reduction". Her Legacy will continue
0.02 follow us on Twitter      Contact      Privacy Policy      Terms of Service
Copyright © BANDMINE // All Right Reserved
Return to top