Dottie West - Remembering One Of The Grand Ladies

This week we take time to honor Dottie West! In her time, Dottie was one of the most glamorous women of the Grand Ole Opry.  After breaking though as a writer of Jim Reeves’ hit ‘Is This Me’, she was brought to the attention of Chet Atkins, an executive at RCA Records.  Atkins signed her and produced her first Top 10 hit, ‘Here Comes My Baby’.  The song earned her a spot on the Grand Ole Opry and the First Grammy Award, bestowed to any woman in Country Music, for Best Female Vocal Performance of the Year.

Prior to the RCA breakthrough, Dottie spent her time with up and coming singer songwriters- Willie Nelson, Justin Tubb, Rogers Miller, and Hank Cochran. After Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves had befriended and mentored Dottie, she paid it forward. The story is that Dottie and her husband would often host these, and other, aspiring musicians at their house- offering meals and a place to stay while connections and collaborations were made to shape many careers.  Down the line, after Dottie became a star, she also helped boost and launch the careers of Jeanie Seely, Larry Gatlin and Steve Wariner. 

In the 70s Dottie got a big boost when Coca-Cola offered her a job as a jingle writer.  One of those catchy jingle tunes was turned into a big crossover record, ‘Country Sunshine’.  By the end of the 70’s she joined forces with Kenny Rogers, bringing her voice to a bigger audience.  Earning the 1978 and 79 Vocal Duo of the Year Award, they toured and filled arenas together.  As Dottie was enjoying a resurgence in her career, she landed at Number One in 1980 with ‘Lesson In Leavin’’, a song that would be made even more popular in the late 90s when it was re-recorded by Jo Dee Messina. 

Throughout her career Dottie West was one of the most glamorous ladies on the Grand Ole Opry.  The man that made her shine was international designer Bob Mackie.  After discovering his name on the Cher TV Show, West connected with Mackie and reportedly paid him $100,000 a year to develop her stage clothes.

The final days of Dottie’s life were quite tragic.  In August 1991 she was running late for her performance on the Grand Ole Opry.  Dottie’s vehicle stalled, and her neighbor drove by just in time to pick her up.  As he was departing the Exit for Opryland, he lost control of the vehicle.  Dottie was rushed to the hospital, but died on the operating table a few days after- at the age of 58.

Dottie left this world with a rack of albums and several classics like ‘Are You Happy Baby’ ‘Would You Hold It Against Me’ ‘Paper Mansions’ ‘Country Girl’ ‘What Are We Doin’ In Love’ and ‘Every Time Two Fools Collide’ with Kenny Rogers.

Dottie West Fun Facts

• Dottie’s daughter, Shelly West, went on to have a Country Music career as the voice of hits like ‘Flight 309 To Tennessee’ ‘Jose Quervo’ and the award winning duet with David Frizzell ‘You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma’.
• Won a Clio Award for the ‘Country Sunshine’ jingle used in the Coca-Cola Ad Campaign. The Clios honor excellence in advertising.
• While she was recording an album, Kenny Rogers was waiting for the same studio to begin work of his own.  While chatting between the changeover, Kenny and Dottie recorded the song she was finishing up as a duet- ‘Every Time Two Fools Collide’.  
• Discovered a 17 year old Steve Wariner singing in Indiana. So impressed, she hired him to play bass and helped him launch a career in Country Music.
• Spotted a young Larry Gatlin in Las Vegas, as he was auditioning to join the group The Imperials.  Larry pitched Dottie some songs, and in the end, she bought his plane ticket to Nashville.
• Dottie loved to shop!  A legendary tale is that Dottie and Dolly Parton would arrange to have high-end stores closed to the public for private late-night shopping sprees- from Rodeo Drive In California to the Green Hills Mall in Nashville.
• Dottie’s life and times were turned into a movie titled ‘Big Dreams and Broken Hearts-The Dottie West Story’.

Check out Kevin's Tribute to Kenny Rogers, Jeannie Seely and Kathy Mattea.