Though her life was tragically cut short at just 30 years of age, Patsy Cline nevertheless managed to cement herself as one of country music's all-time great voices during her brief career. Born in Virginia in 1932, Cline (originally born Virginia Patterson Hensley) grew up admiring stars such as Judy Garland and Shirley Temple, beginning to sing herself in her teenage years. By the mid-1950s, her strong, emotive voice had earned her a reputation around Nashville, yielding several appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. Cline's ability to combine pop songwriting appeal with classic country styles made her a crossover sensation, as songs such as "Crazy," "Walkin' After Midnight" and "I Fall to Pieces" topped both the country and pop charts in the US in the early-1960s. She died in a plane crash in Tennessee in 1963, quickly ending her brief but incredibly influential career.
