Country music superstar Kitty Wells dies at 92

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Last edited Mon Jul 16, 2012, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP



NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Singer Kitty Wells, whose hits such as "Making Believe" and "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" made her the first female superstar of country music, died Monday. She was 92.

The singer's family said she died peacefully at home after complications from a stroke.

Her solo recording career lasted from 1952 to the late 1970s and she made concert tours from the late 1930s until 2000. That year, she announced she was quitting the road, although she performed occasionally in Nashville and elsewhere afterward.

Her "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"; in 1952 was the first No. 1 hit by a woman soloist on the country music charts and dashed the notion that women couldn't be headliners. Billboard magazine had been charting country singles for about eight years at that time.




Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/story/2012-07-16/kitty-wells-queen-of-country-music/56256608/1

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[BeyondGeography]

1. Roots music for America

RIP.

[WCGreen]

2. This root music is what was starting to percolate from all corners of the

country and gave so many rich traditional music with something borrowed from here, there and everywhere....

I remember back before we had the cable, there was only 3 stations and a lot of times there was nothing on but I was keen on music so I watched all the music that I could whether it was the Beatles or Kitty Wells or Leonard Bernstein. And that is why I have such a rich collection of music and a deep foundation of all music.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. I remember radio before music was segragated into "types"..

at any given hour you could hear honkey tonk, then Patti Page, then Bing Crosby...crooners and big dance music and
The Gran' Ole Oprey ( I think that was on a Sat. night?)...all of it.
right up till about...'56? when hints of rock and roll came out. All of it AM....

[murielm99]

14. Roots music, yes.

I always said that I did not like country music, but I first listened to her and Patsy Cline when I was in my twenties. I liked them both. They were the real deal.

I did not know that Kitty Wells was still alive. RIP.

[DemoTex]

3. I'm a classical music lover .. but!

But years ago I realized that some "country" music (including a lot of bluegrass) and jazz belonged in the classical genre. It is - indeed - classical American music. Hence, I came to love the Grand Ole Opry almost as I love the Met. And I love a good steel guitar (Asleep @ the Wheel Comes to mind) and dobro (Jerry Douglas!), as well as a classical guitar (Parkening) and oboe (Heinz Hollinger).
Kitty Wells was particularly good. Like so many other favorites, her age crept up on me. I had no idea she was anywhere near 92. Like Julia Elliot used to say, "All true art is seemingly effortless." Amen. RIP.

[Joe Bacon]

13. She had such a beautiful voice

RIP, Kitty.

[Lint Head]

4. Worked with Kitty Wells years ago. RIP

[Punkingal]

5. She was a sweet lady..

She and her husband went to church with my sister. Nothing snobby about them, just very down to earth and nice.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

7. Johnnie died last year at 97

[Loge23]

6. Farewell angel.

Don't know anything about Ms. Wells private life, but I do know what I like and I loved her singing.
One of the great American Masters in my opinion.

[LongTomH]

8. Somewhere, in the hereafter, my dad is attending a Kitty Wells concert!

He loved country!

[roguevalley]

12. my folks too. we loved her. i still do. she and patsy cline were genius. Sheer genius

[LeftofObama]

9. RIP Kitty!

I've been a fan of yours since I was old enough to sing along with the radio.

[madrchsod]

10. another pioneer has gone on....