Ridin' Old Paint - Patsy Montana w/ The Prairie Ramblers ~ 1935

Описание: Ruby Rose Blevins was born on October 30, 1908 in Beaudry, Arkansas and grew up near Hope. She was the only girl in a family of 10 children. In 1929, she went to California to study violin at the University of the West (now UCLA). In 1931 while there, she entered a talent competition and, singing a Jimmie Rodgers song, won with her performance of singing, yodeling and playing guitar. The prize was an appearance on the Hollywood Breakfast Club radio program. For a time, she joined up with two other female western singers and formed the Montana Cowgirls. This is when she took the name Patsy Montana, taking inspiration from silent film star and champion roper Monte Montana.

The Cowgirls disbanded and she moved back home to Arkansas. She accepted a quick booking on KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana which brought her to the attention of country start Jimmie Davis. Patsy would back Davis on fiddle and vocals, even making her first recordings in 1932 for RCA Victor.

In the summer of 1933, Patsy and two of her brothers went to the Century of Progress exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair to enter a watermelon they had grown. Ruby tagged along to meet up with a couple of pen-pals. While in the city, she auditioned for a crooner's part but began laughing part way through audition. The technician overseeing the session loved her giggle and auditioned her instead at WLS-AM for a group called the Prairie Ramblers. She of course made the part and the group became regulars on WLS's National Barn Dance program. The group would also back Patsy on many of her recordings throughout her career.

In 1934, Blevins reworked a song called "Montana Plains" which morphed into a song called "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart" which would go on to become her signature song. It made Blevins the first female country singer to have a million seller. Blevins performed on National Barn Dance until the 1950s, and worked with Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, Red Foley, the Girls of the Golden West and George Gobel.

The Barn Dance also introduced her to her husband Paul Rose, stage manager for Gene Autry. Its reported they were the only two single people on the show and they kept getting paired up together. Their married life was punctuated by many separations due to tour schedules, etc. but they made it work. She had two daughters, but kept touring until the late 1950's when she semi-retired to spend more time with the family. She attempted a comeback in 1964 releasing and album featuring up-and-coming guitar player Waylon Jennings as lead guitar. This album would serve as influence for Patsy Cline and Dottie West. Patsy was also the inspiration for the voice and mannerisms of Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl in Pixar's 1999 film Toy Story 2.

Patsy would pass away in 1996. Her lifetime achievements include induction into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 1987, an Academy of Country Music Award: Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award in 1970, induction into the Western Music Association Hall of Fame in 1989, a Cowboy Spirit Award in 1992, induction into the Arizona Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994, an Arizona Country Association pioneer award in 1993, induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1996, an Arkansas Country Music Award in 2019 and finally an induction into the Arkansas entertainers hall of fame after her death in 1996.

Today's song is the flip-side to her million seller and signature song "I Wanna Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart". It's called "Ridin' Old Paint" and was both written and composed by herself. She sang vocals with backup by the Prairie Ramblers and Tex Atchison (violin), Chick Hurt (mandolin), Salty Holmes (guitar), and Jack Taylor (string bass). The recording took place in New York City on August 16, 1935, though we're hearing it today from a 1940's rerelease.