Dottie West

Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and fellow recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genres most influential and groundbreaking female artists. Dottie Wests career started in the 1960s, with her Tophit, Here Comes My Baby Back Again, which won her the first Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1965. In the 1960s, West was one of the few female country singers working in what was then a maledominated industry, influencing other female country singers like Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette. Throughout the 1960s, West had Topand Tophits on the country music charts.

Dorothy Marie Marsh was born October 11, 1932 to Pelina Artha and William Hollis Marsh outside McMinville, Tennessee. She was the oldest ofchildren. The family was poor and to make ends meet, Pelina opened up a restaurant, with whose operation Dottie often helped her mother. Dotties father, Hollis Marsh, was an alcoholic who beat and sexually abused her. The abuse continued until she was 17, when she finally reported him to the local sheriff. She testified against her father in court, and he was sentenced toyears in prison, and eventually died there in 1967.

Source: Wikipedia