Dolly Parton

I was twelve years old and had just entered seventh grade. After less than a year in my new town, I still felt like an outcast, but at least I finally had a friend. Alice and I had met in sixth grade and we developed an instant bond. My home life was less than ideal at the time, so I clung to that new friendship fiercely. 

I was taken aback when Alice informed me that she liked country music. What twelve-year-old liked country music? That was my dad's music, and sure, I liked some of his Buck Owens and Ray Price records, but I sure wasn't turning my transistor radio dial to the local country station.

But this new friendship was important to me, so I dived into Alice's music and did my best to play catch-up. Her parents had a console stereo in their living room, like pretty much all parents did, and a decent collection of country albums. So on the days when I rode Alice's school bus to her place, we'd sit cross-legged on the living room carpet and she'd spin some of the LP's she liked best. 

While country music was changing, slowly moving away from the hillbilly style that had dominated the genre for thirty years, Alice's parents preferred the old style, and thus, I was schooled in George Jones, Loretta Lynn, The Wilburn Brothers, and a one-hit duo oddly called Carl Butler & Pearl. (Apparently, Pearl was an afterthought.)

However, one day Alice pulled an album out of the stack and handed it to me as she explained this was someone brand new. 

"She's Porter Wagoner's new partner. Norma Jean's not on the show anymore." (Who was Norma Jean? Who was Porter Wagoner?)

Immediately, this singer's voice struck me as different. Loretta Lynn's was rawly emotional with a heavy drawl. Tammy Wynette was a belter. This Dolly person sang in a higher register and her voice was very melodic, like a bird trilling. And the songs, at least their lyrics, were clever. The first track was called, "Dumb Blonder". and I thought, no wonder she chose it. It broke the stereotype. "This dumb blonde ain't nobody's fool." Aside from Loretta, most female singers of the day recorded songs they'd chosen or were pitched by majority male songwriters. And while fitting, this one was, in fact, written by Curly Putman.

The prettiest track on the album was, "Put It Off Until Tomorrow", then another clever one called, "Something Fishy". Finally, I glanced at the liner notes. Ten of the twelve tracks, including these two were either written or co-written by Dolly. Loretta Lynn penned songs that were deeply personal, sometimes too much so, and a lot of them involved fighting. 😄 "Fist City", "Your Squaw's on the Warpath"--not exactly relatable to most women. Dolly's were more universal.

I didn't run out and buy her albums, but I continued to appreciate her way with words, especially on the next LP, "Just Because I'm a Woman". I was partial to "False Eyelashes" and "I'll Oilwells Love You". I didn't buy a Dolly Parton album until her fourth, "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy".

Oddly, she "only" wrote six of the twelve tracks on this one, and a couple of the others were actually covers. But I liked the title song.

I also bought her 1970 live album, "A Real Live Dolly". At that time, live albums were popular, especially ones by Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. (Buck Owens was the OG of live albums). This LP was lively--it showed off Dolly's bubbly personality. 

But honestly, what really made me a Dolly fan were her duet albums with the aforementioned Porter Wagoner. Porter wasn't a great singer by any means, but he was a great duet singer. Porter's and Dolly's voices blended wonderfully. This is my favorite album of theirs:

 

My favorite track from the album:

 (I don't know why this is so blurry, but it was the only performance video I could find.)

Porter and Dolly won the CMA Vocal Duo of the Year award in 1970 and 1971, but in all the tributes I've seen for Dolly, Porter Wagoner's name isn't even mentioned. I don't think Dolly would like that. He made her a regular on his TV show when she was unknown and together they released 13 albums.

Shortly after the duo parted ways, Dolly's music went in another direction--more poppish. I didn't care for those singles much, but that's a matter of personal taste. 

Her 1980 movie, Nine to Five, was a hoot. Yea, women's lib and all that, but it was funny, with a lot of the credit going to Dabney Coleman.

They say Dolly wrote over 3,000 songs. I think that was her therapy, her quiet time in a world that for her was far from quiet. She was a philanthropist, a businesswoman, an actress, an all-around gracious person, by all accounts.

I remember her for her beginnings. 

And for this one. There's no video of Brad and Dolly performing the song live, but you can certainly hear her contribution here:

I think this recording is fitting.

Rest in peace, Dolly Parton. I'll always remember you from the day I sat on the floor in my best friend's living room and heard you for the first time.