Dolly-Parton

Dolly Parton, born Jan. 19th, 1946 in Locust Ridge Tenn. to a family of 12 poor children who would grow up with them eventually. She learned early how to get out of difficulties through her vibrant and imaginative imagination. Before she learned to write or read, she was making up her own music. When she was eight, she bought the first electric guitar she owned and started singing at the Knoxville Tenn Radio Station. Her first album was recorded during the same year on Gold Band Records, a tiny independent label. While she was at school, she established a name for herself in the local music scene. However, her goal was to be able to make music on a bigger size. After graduating high school in 1964, she moved straight to Nashville. Dumb Blonde (1967) and Something Fishy (1968) were her first two charting albums for Monument Records. Around this time, Porter Wagoner was looking for the next girl to perform on the show he had syndicated to television. Parton took the job in 1966, joined RCA Records in 1968, and the Grand Ole Opry was founded in 1969. The year 1974 was the first that she decided to leave Wagoner's show because the success of her individual records including Joshua Coat, Many Colors and Jolene had outstripped their collaborative efforts. Parton wrote "I Will Always Love You" to Wagoner just after the pair split. The track was ranked the top spot at No. First time, in 1974.