Watch Newly-Rediscovered Patsy Cline Footage
Here’s a chance to watch some historic Patsy Cline footage that hasn’t been seen for decades, on the clip that went a very long way towards making her a national star. In it, she performs the song that became her debut hit, ‘Walkin’ After Midnight,’ on the CBS network’s variety series Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. The near-60-year-old material has now emerged on the Heppest of the Hep Facebook page.
The show aired on 21 January, 1957, when Cline was 24 years old and had been recording for some two years for Four Star, the label affiliated to Decca’s Coral subsidiary. Already married, she had performed in local concerts, on regional radio and on her initial singles for Four Star, but was yet to make a countrywide impression — until this night.
Although Patsy had appeared earlier on Town & Country Time and ABC’s short-lived series inspired by the Grand Ole Opry, the Arthur Godfrey show gave Patsy her first appearance on a top 20-rated national TV platform. She had recorded ‘Walkin’ After Midnight,’ written by Donn Hecht and Alan Block, for Four Star in 1956, despite her indifference to the number.
Then Cline auditioned for the long-running show hosted by TV and radio personalityGodfrey, on which he introduced artists supposedly discovered by its network of talent scouts. She won the slot that we see her performing here with Hank Garland on lead guitar, Grady Martin on second guitar and an appearance at the piano by her longtime producer at Decca, Owen Bradley.
The performance was so well received that Decca were prompted to take up the option on issuing Cline’s recording herself. It was rush-released on 11 February, entered the country chart on 2 March and became Patsy’s debut hit, peaking at No. 2 and reaching No. 12 on the pop chart.
Explore our dedicated Patsy Cline Artist Page
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DON
August 8, 2016 at 11:41 pm
FIRST HEAD THIS ON JUKE BOX 1957.. BIG HIT BELIEVE ME..
Mike
August 9, 2016 at 6:40 am
This is a real find! Jeez, Patsy looks so young. The irony is, Patsy hated this song and had to be forced to record it. I could never understand her antipathy toward it…it’s just a great song.
deanna larrison
August 28, 2016 at 3:07 am
thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of history. i have always been a fan even tho i wasn’t into c&w. her voice is so recognizeable even 50+ years later.
Ken P.
August 28, 2016 at 5:00 am
I watched that show in 1957 and became a fan of hers that day. I listened to that same song today on the tape I have. Thanks for the back to the future ride.
Floyd Butler
August 28, 2016 at 7:16 am
Love the song, and the woman who sung it…I live in the Shenandoah valley where she is from oh how i adore her talent…
carlos
August 29, 2016 at 1:54 am
realmente…uma das melhores vozes feminina..
astro
August 29, 2016 at 4:46 am
This is beautiful. I was a young boy when I first heard this and I loved it. Thank you for bringing it back to me!
John
August 29, 2016 at 7:49 am
Patsy would be the GREATEST C/W SINGER ever
Jim
August 31, 2016 at 11:32 pm
We had just gotten to hearing and loving her singing in 1963 when the news came that she and two other country stars had been killed in a tragic plane accident. She will always be the greatest female C and W singer of all time and I enjoyed the movie made of her with a lady named DeAngelo playing her part and doing a great job. Rip dear lady!!
jan holly
November 2, 2016 at 4:43 pm
Great singer… & “Strange” how she disliked ‘Walking’ and ‘Fall to Pieces’ yet they beecame such big hits for her….. Patsy and Connie Smith, 2 great voices. 2 #1s !!! Sad to think of all the music we missed as she was gone too soon!
paul justice
November 4, 2016 at 7:25 am
patsy cline is the greatist C&W singer ever .