Dottie West (born Dorothy Marie Marsh; October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991) was an American country singer and songwriter. She also had several credits as an actress. A distinguished figure in the country genre, West was among several people who helped to elevate the platform of female country artists. She was also known for mentoring up-and-coming artists and being the first woman to win a country music accolade from the Grammy Awards.

West's exposure to country music in childhood influenced her continued music education at Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. After she married, the family moved to Ohio, where she made her first appearances singing on regional television. Her aspirations to write and record country led to her obtaining a Starday Records recording contract in 1959. West and her family then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she continued recording and releasing unsuccessful singles for Starday. In 1963, she signed with RCA Victor, with which she had her first success. Her self-penned "Here Comes My Baby" (1964) became a top-10 US country song and won her a Grammy. Writing and co-writing her own material, she had more top-10 Nashville Sound-influenced singles such as "Would You Hold It Against Me", "Paper Mansions", and "Rings of Gold".

West continued recording for RCA through 1976, having a crossover pop single with 1973's "Country Sunshine". The latter was also a Coca-Cola commercial jingle that was played routinely on television. Moving to United Artists Records (which later bought Liberty Records), West had her peak success in her middle age. In the late 1970s she recorded two albums with Kenny Rogers. Their first duet, "Every Time Two Fools Collide" (1978), became West's first chart-topping single and was followed by four more top-10 songs. The newfound success led to her own solo career reigniting. She had her first chart-topping solo single in 1980 with "A Lesson in Leavin'", which was followed by several more top-20 songs.

In the early 1980s West began an acting career, appearing in television shows such as The Love Boat and films such as The Aurora Encounter. She signed a new recording contract with Permian Records, on which label her last album was released in 1984. She continued appearing on television and touring. However, West's increased spending habits led to her filing for bankruptcy in 1990. Her personal possessions were sold in a public auction by the Internal Revenue Service, and she was forced to sell her home. While in the midst of planning a career comeback, she was killed in a car accident in 1991. Following her death, her life was made into a television movie, Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story, and she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Early life

Dorothy Marie Marsh was born in Frog Pond, Tennessee, a community roughly northeast of Nashville in Macon County. She was the eldest of 10 children born to Pelina Artha (née Jones) and William Hollis Marsh. The Marsh family lived a reportedly impoverished life, often running out of food and other resources. In Dorothy's early years, the family lived in dilapidated homes. At one point, a new home was being constructed by Pelina's extended family, but was burnt to the ground by Hollis before its completion.

Hollis Marsh was drafted during World War II, but was discharged after three months. The family received military allotment checks, which provided enough financial stability to build their own home. Pelina Marsh then took on a job at a tree nursery to provide for her children. Being the oldest child, Dorothy took on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings while her mother worked. Dorothy and Pelina also worked in the fields of their neighbor's farm, picking fruits and vegetables. When she was 12, Dorothy raised money through a school fundraiser to buy her first guitar.

During her teen years, Dorothy attended Central High School in McMinnville, Tennessee. During this period, her father continued abusing alcohol and physically abusing his children, including Dorothy. On some occasions, Hollis Marsh would hold his wife and children at gunpoint. Around the age of 11, Dorothy began being repeatedly molested by her father; she was too afraid to report this. The abuse continued for several years, and she spoke little of it during her lifetime. As a result of the sexual abuse, Dorothy had a miscarriage when she was 15.

When she was 17, her father had found a job working for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. He threatened to take Dorothy out of school so she could move to Detroit with him. After being told the news by her father, Dorothy became uncontrollably emotional at school. The same day, she confessed the molestation to her high-school teachers. Hollis Marsh was then arrested on rape and incest charges. Dorothy subsequently went to live with the county sheriff for several weeks, while her mother moved the family into a McMinnville apartment. Dorothy later testified in court against her father. Hollis was ultimately found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 40 years at Tennessee State Prison. He died in prison in 1967.

Dorothy moved back into her mother's McMinnville apartment. Her mother had to go on welfare to support her family. Along with her mother, Dorothy became a waitress at a local restaurant. During this time, Dorothy began going by the name of Dottie. She also began singing and playing guitar in a high-school band called the Coonskins.

Career

1956–1962: Regional TV in Ohio and beginnings in Nashville

In 1956, the West family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Bill West found work in a steel facility and Dottie obtained a five-year contract on the regional country music television program Landmark Jamboree. On the show, West formed a singing duo called the Kay-Dots with Kathy Dee. The Landmark Jamboree often had mainstream country artists appear, including the Carter Sisters, with whom West worked later. West also had aspirations of mainstream country stardom herself. Along with her husband and children, the family spent numerous weekends traveling to Nashville, where she attempted to score a recording contract. West also became close friends with Patsy Cline during this time. West also toured with several other Grand Ole Opry performers, and was now being managed by the Jim Denny Artist Bureau. In July 1962, she moved to Atlantic Records, becoming the first country music artist on the label's roster. However, the label also failed to generate any commercial success for her. and "Let Me off at the Corner". The latter became her first to make the US country chart Her next release, "Love Is No Excuse", was a duet with Jim Reeves that reached the top 10. and a membership to the Grand Ole Opry. The disc reached number 12 on the US country albums chart, as did her next studio album, Dottie West Sings. Her follow-up singles reached the US country top 40 through 1966: "Didn't I", "Gettin' Married Has Made Us Strangers", "No Sign of Living", and "Before the Ring on Your Finger Turns Green". The disc was her highest-charting yet, reaching number three on the US country chart. The second single, "Would You Hold It Against Me", reached the top five of the US country chart. West also appeared in two country music-themed films during this time: Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar and There's a Still on the Hill. RCA continued releasing new material of West's, as well. In 1968, the label released the studio LPs What I'm Cut Out to Be, Country Girl, and Feminine Fancy. All three discs reached the US country albums chart.

1969–1976: Collaborations, "Country Sunshine", and commercial decline

As West's career progressed, she was chosen as a collaborator on duets for male country artists. She first collaborated with Don Gibson on several duet recordings that were released on the 1969 album Dottie and Don. The project was her final with Chet Atkins. and "There's a Story (Goin' 'Round)". The latter was a top-10 country single in the US. Together, Dean and West played the Landmark and Golden Nugget hotels in Las Vegas. In the latter (whose story line is based on a single mother), West reportedly cried during its recording session. This was followed by the top-30 US country single "If It's All Right with You".

In the early 1970s, Coca-Cola advertising executives heard West's 1968 song "Country Girl". In turn, West agreed to compose and record commercial jingles for Coca-Cola. In 1972, the company adapted "Country Girl" into a jingle that was played routinely as a television commercial. As a result, the company gave West a lifetime contract to make jingles for Coke. A follow-up jingle was co-written with Billy Davis called "Country Sunshine". Released in 1973, the single version reached number two on the US country chart It also made similar positions in Canada. A studio album of the same name made it to number 17 on the US country albums chart. spawned two top-40 singles, the title track and "Lay Back Lover". However, further singles released through 1976 reached positions outside the US country top 40. In 1978, their duet version of "Every Time Two Fools Collide" became West's first number-one US country single.

The duo's collaborative success resulted in West's own commercial resurgence. The pairing had three more top-10 and chart-topping country singles through 1979: "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight", "All I Ever Need Is You", and "'Til I Can Make It on My Own". West also made changes to her image by getting plastic surgery and purchasing $100,000 spandex outfits designed by Bob Mackie.

Although finding renewed popularity as a duo, West's solo material was failing to have the same commercial momentum. The disc climbed to number 13 on the US country chart. Liberty Records released her next studio project called Wild West (1981). Spawned from the album was "Are You Happy Baby?", West's second solo single to reach the number-one spot. It was followed by another chart-topper called "What Are We Doin' in Love" (a duet with Kenny Rogers).

In 1982, West co-hosted the 17th Academy of Country Music Awards alongside Mickey Gilley and Conway Twitty. In 1983, West (who was a lifelong active Democrat) performed on the party's syndicated telethon "Celebrate America". Along with more television appearances, West started to dabble in acting. She appeared on an episode of The Love Boat, and played the voice of Melissa Raccoon in the film The Raccoons and the Lost Star. She also portrayed Mona in the traveling stage production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. At age 50, West shot a photo spread for the adult magazine Oui. The same year, the single "It's High Time" reached the US country top 20. West's second TV special aired on Showtime in 1982 and was also named Full Circle. Her final Liberty album was released in 1983 titled New Horizons, which only reached the US country top 70. She collaborated with producer Jerry Crutchfield on her first label album titled Just Dottie (1984). Billboard found it both "sorrowful" and "sassy", while The Tennessean found the disc to have "powerful women lyrics". The album spawned West's final US charting country songs: "What's Good for the Goose (Is Good for the Gander)", "Let Love Come Lookin' for You", and "We Know Better Now". A duet taken from Kenny Rogers' Duets compilation ("Together Again") made the US country top 20 in 1984, as well.

In 1986, West made her film debut in the science fiction thriller The Aurora Encounter. She played the role of Irene Rutherford, a widow who is visited by extraterrestrial creatures. The film was considered "low-budget" by critics. As the 1980s progressed, West's popularity declined and her concert offerings became more sporadic.

In 1990, West declared bankruptcy and divorced her third husband, Alan Winters. Shortly before her 1991 death, West was planning an album of duets with Tanya Tucker and Tammy Wynette, along with an autobiography. It was later reported that Thackston had taken the 25 mile-per-hour exit ramp at an estimated speed of 55 miles per hour.

Thackston was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Thackston survived the crash. He was later charged with reckless endangerment and pleaded no contest. He was ultimately sentenced to 11 months probation and to complete an alcohol recovery program. At the scene of the accident, West did not appear to have any injuries, but she was admitted to the hospital with a ruptured spleen and a lacerated liver. On the morning of September 4, 1991, West was being prepared for her next surgery. Her heart stopped on the operating table at 9:43 am, and she was unable to be revived. She was 58 years old.

West's funeral was held at Nashville's Christ Church on September 7, 1991. West was honored by her granddaughters with an original song paying tribute to her, which was played at the funeral. Steve Wariner sang "Amazing Grace" during the services. Kenny Rogers eulogized her in a speech: "When she sang about pain, she felt pain; when she sang about love, she felt love; when she sang about beauty, she felt that beauty. While some performers sang words, she sang emotions." West was then buried at Mount View Cemetery in her hometown of McMinnville.

Personal life

Marriages and children

West was married and divorced three times. Her first marriage was to Bill West in 1953, whom she met on her first day of classes at Tennessee Tech. The couple wed during her sophomore year and were pictured together in their 1953 college yearbook. Bill was also a steel guitarist who became a member of his wife's touring band and co-wrote many of her early songs. In their first years in Nashville, the Wests rented a pink cottage on the west side of the city. A home they later bought in Nashville caught fire in 1969. The family then purchased a home located in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville. In 1972, the Wests divorced. Dottie later claimed that she caught Bill cheating on her. Bill West died in 2013. Their fourth child Dale was born in 1962. The couple's children also became involved with the music business. Kerry West became an audio engineer and found employment running sound equipment during shows for Ronnie Milsap. Mo West was a songwriter and guitarist, notably for the American rock band Thunder, which was briefly signed to Atlantic Records.

In 1972, West married her band's drummer, Byron Metcalf, who was 12 years younger. In 1981, the divorce became final. It was agreed that West would give Metcalf $55,000, along with $10,000 provided to Metcalf's lawyer. "I work. He doesn't," she told the press. In 1983, West wed sound engineer Al Winters. The couple had a 23-year age difference. In 1988, West filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences" and "cruel and inhuman treatment". Their divorce became final in January 1990.

Financial challenges and bankruptcy

In her later years, West became known for her spending habits. In some instances, stores would remain open through midnight so she could shop alone. "I can spend money real quick, I'm good at that. And there's been times that maybe I spent it in a way that I shouldn't. But I've always enjoyed it," she later commented. During this period, West purchased a colonial mansion in Williamson County, Tennessee. The home was equipped with a bowling alley, closets organized with designer clothes, and a nursery for her two grandchildren. West also had a mirror built on the ceiling above her master bed.

In August 1990, West filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, owing the US Internal Revenue Service $1 million. She later switched to chapter seven, which allowed her to liquidate her assets. Her Chevrolet Corvette was also seized and Kenny Rogers lent her a car, instead. West then moved into Nashville's Wessex Towers condominiums. Several months later, an unknown caller informed bankruptcy trustee John McLemore that West was secretly hiding personal possessions in storage to avoid their seizure by the IRS. In April 1991, several porcelain objects and a guitar were found in a storage facility.

In June 1991, the IRS held a public auction where people bought West's personal possessions. Some fans bought items and returned them to West. Items sold at the auction included West's baby grand piano and her 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood. Despite the proceeds from the auction, West was still left with debt.

Artistry

Influences

From an early age, West was routinely exposed to country music. West's father routinely played the fiddle during her childhood. He often performed songs by Jimmie Rodgers on the instrument while West's mother would sing along. Because the family was one of few to own a radio, neighbors would gather at her childhood home every Saturday evening to listen to the Grand Ole Opry. Among her earliest influences were the Carter Family and the Carter Sisters. West later commented that she would cry when hearing Anita Carter's "pure, sweet voice" in the family group. She was most especially influenced by the group's matriarch, Mother Maybelle Carter. "She was very dedicated to her career, but she was also a very good mama. She really took care of those girls. I watched how she handled the business part, the stage, the performance, and the traveling."

thumb|left|160px|West's biggest musical influence was [[Patsy Cline, who served as both her friend and mentor.]]

West's most significant musical influence was Patsy Cline. While the pair also were friends, Cline also served as a mentor to West. According to West, Cline took a "genuine interest" in her career, while also providing advice on her stage presence and vocal delivery. Cline was scheduled to take an airplane alongside her road manager to Nashville, but was delayed due to poor weather conditions. Instead, she accepted an invitation from West to travel to Nashville by car. Cline was carrying her suitcase to West's car when she decided it would be faster to travel home by plane. Leaving instead on her manager's plane, Cline was killed in en route to Nashville on March 5.

Mentoring younger artists

West became known for discovering up-and-coming music artists and mentoring their early careers.

West discovered Steve Wariner, who would have a series of top-10 country singles during the 1980s and 1990s. Seventeen year-old Wariner was performing at the Nashville Country Club in Indianapolis, Indiana, when West interrupted his show to sing harmony with him. Wariner started playing bass in West's band and toured with her during the 1970s. Wariner also lived with West at her Nashville home for several years. "I just grew up with Dottie West," Wariner recounted. West also discovered Larry Gatlin, who also had a successful country recording career performing as "Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers". In the early 1970s Gatlin went to Las Vegas to audition for the gospel group The Imperials. As he was walking through a showroom, he caught the attention of West. After having a conversation, Gatlin pitched several songs to West, two of which she later recorded ("You're the Other Half of Me" and "Once You Were Mine"). West also encouraged Gatlin to move to Nashville and bought him a plane ticket to the city.

Musical styles

West's RCA recordings were largely identified with the Nashville Sound subgenre of country music. The Nashville Sound was a style of country that replaced traditional production with more pop-influenced instrumentation. Many Nashville Sound recordings featured orchestras, jazz-styled guitars, and four-part harmonies. West's RCA producer Chet Atkins highlighted her songwriting and vocal delivery and backed it with Nashville Sound production to help make it commercially successful. Authors Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann described West's RCA singles "Would You Hold It Against Me" and "Paper Mansions" as "definitive Nashville Sound hits". As the Nashville Sound evolved into country pop style during the 1970s, so did West's music. Tim Sheridan of AllMusic wrote, "There are all kinds of country music: hillbilly, bluegrass, honky-tonk, etc. Dottie West is the queen of Spandex country: a slickly produced Nashville brand of country-pop."

Legacy, influence, and achievements

Dottie West was considered among several artists to elevate the platform of female country artists. Robert K. Oermann compared West to that of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette, saying, "these women were American icons whose songs were about heartache and resilience. They rose from poverty to become glittering heroines." Jason Ankeny of AllMusic wrote, "West's battles for identity and respect within the male-dominated country music hierarchy were instrumental in enabling other female artists to gain control over the directions of their careers."

West is also remembered for reinventing and continuing her career in her middle age. Juli Thanki of The Tennessean wrote, "West continually reinvented herself during her career, transforming from the gingham-clad girl next door to chart-topping country bombshell." The film was created by West's former manager Ken Kragen and Michele Lee. Lee wore many of West's original stage clothes and did her own research into West's past. Variety praised the director's role in the film: "Director Bill D'Elia has a talented cast and successfully guides them in establishing a high credibility factor to the story usually lacking in other biopix." A fan of West's music, Messina was inspired to record the song after watching her 1995 television movie. In reference to West's legacy, Messina told Billboard, "She had spunk. She had fire. She loved the fans, and she loved people. She was a very strong woman." West's hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee, dedicated Highway 56 to her memory, naming it the Dottie West Memorial Highway.

In the 2010s, Jeannie Seely and Ron Harman began an effort to induct West into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Harman created a Facebook page in 2012 to bring attention to the campaign, which was titled "Dottie West Needs Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame". More than 15,000 users "liked" the page. In March 2018, it was officially announced that West would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In October 2018, West was inducted through the Hall of Fame's official ceremony.

Discography

Studio albums as a solo artist

  • Here Comes My Baby (1965)
  • Dottie West Sings (1965)
  • Suffer Time (1966)
  • With All My Heart and Soul (1967)
  • Dottie West Sings Sacred Ballads (1967)
  • I'll Help You Forget Her (1967)
  • What I'm Cut Out to Be (1968)
  • Country Girl (1968)
  • Feminine Fancy (1968)
  • Dottie Sings Eddy (1969)
  • Makin' Memories (1969)
  • Country and West (1970)
  • Forever Yours (1970)
  • Careless Hands (1971)
  • Have You Heard...Dottie West (1971)
  • I'm Only a Woman (1972)
  • If It's All Right with You/Just What I've Been Looking For (1973)
  • Country Sunshine (1973)
  • Would You Hold It Against Me (1973)
  • House of Love (1974)
  • Carolina Cousins (1975)
  • When It's Just You and Me (1977)
  • Dottie (1978)
  • Special Delivery (1979)
  • Wild West (1981)
  • High Times (1981)
  • Full Circle (1982)
  • New Horizons (1983)
  • Just Dottie (1984)

Studio albums as a collaboration

  • The Sound of Country Music (1967)
  • Dottie and Don (1969)
  • Country Boy & Country Girl (1970)
  • Every Time Two Fools Collide (1978)
  • Classics (1979)

Filmography

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of film and television appearances by Dottie West, showing all relevant details

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref.

|-

! scope="row"| Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar

| 1966

| Herself

|

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| The Road to Nashville

| 1967

| Herself

|

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| Skinflint: A Country Christmas Carol

| 1979

| Annabelle Williams

| Television movie

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| Dottie West: Special Delivery

| 1980

| Herself

| Television concert special

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| Dottie West: Full Circle

| 1982

| Herself

| Television concert special

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| The Fall Guy

| Herself

| Season 3, episode 10

| align="center"|