Dolly-Parton

Dolly Parton, who was born in Locust Ridge Tenn. on Jan. 19. 1946 into a very poor family with 12 kids eventually included, discovered early that she could escape her hardships through a vivid imagination. She was writing songs before she was able to read or write. The guitar that she first received was presented by her mother when she was eighteen. The singer began her singing career at an Knoxville Tenn station by the age of eleven. In the same year, she recorded her first recording on Gold Band Records a tiny independent label. As a student in high school She made her mark locally but dreamed about a larger stage. The day she graduated from high school, in 1964. Dumb Blonde was her first album to be charted on Monument Records. Around this time, Porter Wagoner was looking for an actress to sing for his television show that was syndicated. Parton became a member of Grand Ole Opry 1969 after having signed with RCA Records. However, it wasn't until 1974 that she opted to walk away from Wagoner's band because the popularity of her own solo records including Joshua Coat, Many Colors and Jolene exceeded their collective efforts. Parton recorded I Will Always love You in honor of Wagoner following their split. It reached number one. #1 for the first time in 1974.