Ten Acts Who Belong in the Country Hall of Fame: Dottie West (#8)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (87036)
United States
April 26, 2016 8:16pm CST
I'm continuing that series that results in crickets chirping. 
Seriously, most people who say they're "country music fans" today don't care a thing for country music that came before Garth Brooks. That's sad, but there's nothing I can do about it...except maybe hope one of these discussions sparks someone to dig into the wonderful, rich history of country music.
#8: Dottie West
If you grew up in the early 70s you knew her Coke commercial: "I was raised on country sunshine, I'm happy with the simple things, a Saturday night dance, a bottle of Coke, and the joy that the bluebirds bring."
There was so much more to Dottie West than that Coke commercial, however. West was the first woman to win a Grammy in country music (in 1965, for her classic song "Here Comes My Baby"). She was also one of the first popular female country singers to write her own songs (she wrote the aforementioned Grammy winner as well as that Coke jingle [which was released as a single with "a picture show" replacing the reference to the soft drink]). With her then-husband Bill West, she wrote "Is This Me," which the legendary Jim Reeves recorded and had a top five hit with. Reeves later recorded a duet, "Love Is No Excuse," with West.
With Reeves' help West was signed to RCA, where her career took off. She went through peaks and valleys, eventually rebounding in the late 70s thanks to a series of duets with Kenny Rogers. Additionally, her daughter, Shelly West, also became a country star.
On August 30, 1991 West was a passenger in a car driven by her elderly neighbor when he failed to negotiate a sharp curve near the Grand Ole Opry House (where she was en route to perform) and crashed. Initially not believed to be seriously hurt, it was later discovered that West suffered critical internal injuries including a lacerated liver and a ruptured spleen. The injuries proved too severe, and she died as a result of the injuries while in surgery on September 4, 1991.
Dottie West's legacy as a groundbreaking female artist who paved the way for several already-inducted female acts such as Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris, and Barbara Mandrell (all of whom cite West as an influence) needs to be recognized by the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Dottie West
Born: October 11, 1932, McMinnville, Tennessee
Died: September 4, 1991, Nashville, Tennessee (injuries from a car wreck)
Claim to Fame: Pioneering female singer and songwriter
Best work:
"Here Comes My Baby"
"Paper Mansions"
"Before the Ring on Your Finger Turns Green"
"Rings of Gold" (with Don Gibson)
Dottie's Grammy-winning hit:
Seriously, most people who say they're "country music fans" today don't care a thing for country music that came before Garth Brooks. That's sad, but there's nothing I can do about it...except maybe hope one of these discussions sparks someone to dig into the wonderful, rich history of country music.
#8: Dottie West
If you grew up in the early 70s you knew her Coke commercial: "I was raised on country sunshine, I'm happy with the simple things, a Saturday night dance, a bottle of Coke, and the joy that the bluebirds bring."
There was so much more to Dottie West than that Coke commercial, however. West was the first woman to win a Grammy in country music (in 1965, for her classic song "Here Comes My Baby"). She was also one of the first popular female country singers to write her own songs (she wrote the aforementioned Grammy winner as well as that Coke jingle [which was released as a single with "a picture show" replacing the reference to the soft drink]). With her then-husband Bill West, she wrote "Is This Me," which the legendary Jim Reeves recorded and had a top five hit with. Reeves later recorded a duet, "Love Is No Excuse," with West.
With Reeves' help West was signed to RCA, where her career took off. She went through peaks and valleys, eventually rebounding in the late 70s thanks to a series of duets with Kenny Rogers. Additionally, her daughter, Shelly West, also became a country star.
On August 30, 1991 West was a passenger in a car driven by her elderly neighbor when he failed to negotiate a sharp curve near the Grand Ole Opry House (where she was en route to perform) and crashed. Initially not believed to be seriously hurt, it was later discovered that West suffered critical internal injuries including a lacerated liver and a ruptured spleen. The injuries proved too severe, and she died as a result of the injuries while in surgery on September 4, 1991.
Dottie West's legacy as a groundbreaking female artist who paved the way for several already-inducted female acts such as Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris, and Barbara Mandrell (all of whom cite West as an influence) needs to be recognized by the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Dottie West
Born: October 11, 1932, McMinnville, Tennessee
Died: September 4, 1991, Nashville, Tennessee (injuries from a car wreck)
Claim to Fame: Pioneering female singer and songwriter
Best work:
"Here Comes My Baby"
"Paper Mansions"
"Before the Ring on Your Finger Turns Green"
"Rings of Gold" (with Don Gibson)
Dottie's Grammy-winning hit:
3 people like this
3 responses
@teamfreak16 (43728)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Apr 16
And coincidentally, just yesterday my girlfriend showed me a photo of Kenny and Dottie. Asked if they were ever married. I had no idea.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87036)
• United States
27 Apr 16
Answer to that question: no, they weren't.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43728)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Apr 16
@FourWalls - Thanks, I was too lazy to look it up. Yes. I can get that lazy.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Apr 16
Dottie West is not in the HOF!?! Are you serious? She's famous. I am not country but have known who she is since I was a kid.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87036)
• United States
27 Apr 16
Afraid she isn't. Pitiful, isn't it?
There's another name on here that'll make you faint when you see that they aren't in the Hall of Fame!
