All My Love To Patti Page
Before rock and roll burst onto the scene, pop music was more sedate and one of its leading exponents was Patti Page. She began as a country music singer and crossed over into pop, with country-tinged records that were very popular with the public. Page was born into a poor, farming family in 1927 in Claremore, Oklahoma. Her vocal talent and good looks were to carry her away into stardom. She was Clara Ann Fowler before she assumed her stage name.
Patti Page’s break came when she was picked to sing on a local radio show, broadcast from Tulsa. The bandleader and manager, Jack Rael listened to one of her sessions and invited her to join the band he managed, the Jimmy Joy Band. Rael later became her personal manager and supervised her solo career. The first single was released in 1948, called Confess and it reached the Top 20 chart position. The follow up, With My Eyes Wide Open I’m Dreaming was a million seller.
Even more success followed when All My Love came out. It was adapted from the orchestral piece Bolero, composed by Maurice Ravel and was the first number one hit for Patti Page in 1950. Later in the same year, she had the biggest hit of her career when she recorded The Tennessee Waltz.
The face of pop music changed of course as the 1960s revolution of groups took hold. Patti Page had a loyal fan base however and remained a much sought after live performer. The last pop hit occurred in 1965 with the theme song from the movie starring Bette Davis, Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. Her last ever chart position was in the country charts in 1982, with the song My Man Friday, which reached number 80.
Despite her advancing years, she continues to give live performances for her fans. Patti Page has been an astute businesswoman too and started her own record label in the 1990s. She was given a special Grammy Award in 1998 for her contribution to music as the Best Traditional Pop Singer.
Patti Page has been married twice, the first time in 1956 until her divorce in 1972. Her second marriage took place in 1990. She helps her present partner to run a successful maple syrup products company. A CD release is scheduled for 2007 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Oklahoma becoming a state. Patti Page is one of the contributors to the compilation, along with other Okie artists such as Jimmy Webb and Garth Brooks. The proceeds will go towards a local charity.
Tags: Arts, Celebrities, Music, Pop, Women
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