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Ogdensburg Command Performances to present 'A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline' Nov. 5 in Gouverneur

Posted 11/3/14

GOUVERNEUR -- Ogdensburg Command Performances will present "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Sanctioned by the Patsy Cline Estate, this tribute chronicles Patsy Cline’s life …

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Ogdensburg Command Performances to present 'A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline' Nov. 5 in Gouverneur

Posted

GOUVERNEUR -- Ogdensburg Command Performances will present "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Sanctioned by the Patsy Cline Estate, this tribute chronicles Patsy Cline’s life story with 20 of her best-known songs. Cline is portrayed by Julie Johnson.

Curtain time is 7:45 p.m. in Gouverneur High School Auditorium, 133 East Barney St.

Tickets range from $17 to $37. Discounts are available for senior citizens, students, groups of 15 or more and OCP “Friends.” Purchase them by 393-2625 or sending an email to ocp@ogdensburgk12.org. Visit www.ILoveTheatre.org for additional information.

Johnson has portrayed Cline in eight productions of the show. She has been enjoyed a varied and exciting career spanning Broadway, off-Broadway, regional theatre and concerts. She also starred in a new musical "Look Homeward, Honky Tonk Angel" with music and lyrics by Larry Gatlin. She is the voice of Baby Bop on the Barney and Friends series. Movie credits include "Pure Country" with George Strait and "The Apostle" with Robert Duvall.

One of the all-time legends of country music, Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on Sept. 8, 1932 in Virginia. Always spunky and devoted to music, she quit school at 15 to work in a drug store to help support her single mother and younger brother and sister. In return, her mother dedicated her spare time to helping Patsy’s career and drove her to Nashville for her first Grand Ole Opry audition when she was only 16.

Cline was never shy about self-promotion and impressed everyone the moment they heard her. Ironically, her musical talent was never really rewarded until "Walkin’ After Midnight," which was recorded ten years after she began singing professionally. Her rendition of this song on the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts in 1957 not only won the contest, but finally set her on the road to acclaim. It was followed 3 years later by "I Fall to Pieces." Then came "Crazy" (written by Willie Nelson), "She’s Got You," "Leavin’ On Your Mind," "Sweet Dreams" and "Faded Love." Her last single release was "A Closer Walk with Thee." She realized her lifetime ambition of joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and won 10 awards at the WSM Country Music Festival.

In the early 1960’s Cline’s life began settling down just as her career began to pick up. Two children, a dream home and a stack of hit records were finally hers but she would not be able to enjoy them long. She died in an airplane crash March 5, 1963 while hurrying back to her family after a benefit concert in Kansas City.