"I'm just an ole country
gal. People won't like me there."4
(expressing
her concerns about performing in Las Vegas)
In late 1962, Patsy became the first major female country star to headline in Las Vegas! She played at "The Mint" casino for 35 days, 4 shows per night.
courtesy MCA
Patsy Cline in Vegas!
"Four shows a night, forty-five minutes each, and seven nights a week for five weeks ~ this cat's ass will be draggin the bottom of the desert!"1
Although the setup turned out to be less-than-glamorous, it was still Vegas and could lead to bigger things there. Patsy's act opened on November 23, 1962. Unfortunately, she had completely lost her voice and had to lip-synch to her own records for a couple of nights!
Patsy was in gloomy spirits, having to perform on Christmas Day.
"No matter what, I will never do this again! This is the time to be with your family, not away from them."1
Patsy's manager, Randy Hughes, had booked her for a return engagement at the more upscale Sahara, but felt it was best not to let her know just yet!
Don Hecht was able to visit Patsy in Vegas, and she spoke of suing Bill McCall for back royalties; she also spoke of her future plans:
"We owe each other a hell of a lot, Don. I've got a little traveling to do and I gotta rest. I'm not feeling well. After I get this traveling done and I get back home, you prepare some songs. I don't give a shit what anyone says ~ you get the songs. We are going to do an album and we are going to have a number one album!"4
Additonally, Patsy was still speaking gloomily:
"When I'm gone, that's the
way I'd like to have people think about me ~ 'cry not for me!'"1
(to Don Hecht
about her song, "Cry Not For Me")
"Now, if anything happens to
me, I want you to have this coat!"1
(to Mae Boren Axton
during a Vegas visit)
After she returned from Vegas, Patsy drove to some club dates with June Carter in late January 1963.
"Please, June, would you let me drive. There's something I've got to tell you.... I want you to write all of this down, because I'm 'going out' soon, and I'm going out fast, and it's going to be tragic. I want you to tell my mother and Charlie, after I'm gone, what I want done. I want you to write it all down so that they'll know I'm not making all this up."1
June did as she was instructed.
"I want my mother to raise my daughter and I want Charlie to raise the boy. I want to make sure that they bring my body home to my house. Just tell Charlie I want him to bring me home, and I want him to raise my son, and my mother to raise my daughter."1
"Oh Lord, I sing just like I hurt inside."2
Credits: 1-Mark Bego, 2-Trudy Stamper, 3-Joan & Brian Gray,
4-Margaret Jones, 5-Buddy Killen
Copyright © 1998 Patsified! All rights reserved.