Crystal Gayle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Crystal Gayle
Gayle performing in 2007
Born	Brenda Gail Webb (1951-01-09) January 9, 1951 (age 74) Paintsville, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	1969–present
Known for	"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"
Spouse(s)	Vassilios "Bill" Gatzimos ​ (m. 1971)​
Children	2
Relatives	Loretta Lynn (sister) Jay Lee Webb (brother) Peggy Sue (sister)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Country country pop folk gospel jazz
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Decca United Artists Columbia Elektra Warner Bros. Capitol Liberty Intersound Madacy The Orchard Southpaw

Brenda Gail Webb (born January 9, 1951), known as Crystal Gayle, is an American country music singer. She is famous for her 1977 hit song "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". Crystal Gayle is also known for her very long, floor-length hair.

At the start of her career, Crystal Gayle worked with the same people as her older sister, famous singer Loretta Lynn. When this didn't work out, Loretta encouraged Crystal to try something new. Crystal signed a new record deal and started working with producer Allen Reynolds. Her new sound was a mix of country and pop music, called country pop. This style helped her reach a wider audience. Crystal Gayle became one of the most successful artists who blended different music styles in the 1970s and 1980s.

Crystal Gayle's first big hit was "Wrong Road Again" in 1975. But her biggest success came in 1977 with "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue." This song became number one on the country charts. It also became a top five hit on the main pop charts and was popular around the world. She continued to have many hits in the late 1970s and 1980s. These included "Ready for the Times to Get Better" (1977), "Talking in Your Sleep" (1978), and "You and I" (1982).

In the 1990s, Crystal Gayle explored different types of music. She released a gospel album called Someday (1995). She also released an album of classic songs called Crystal Gayle Sings the Heart and Soul of Hoagy Carmichael (1999). She even owned a gift shop called Crystal's Fine Gifts and Jewelry. Her most recent album was released in 2019, and she still performs around the world.

Crystal Gayle has won many awards, including a Grammy Award. She has also won five Academy of Country Music awards and two Country Music Association awards. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2017, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country music show.

Early Life and Name Change

Webb family home

Crystal Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb in Paintsville, Kentucky, on January 9, 1951. She was the youngest of eight children. Her parents were Clara Marie and Melvin Theodore Webb. Unlike her older sister Loretta Lynn, Crystal was born in a hospital. Her father was a coal miner who became ill.

When Crystal was four, her family moved to Wabash, Indiana, for better medical care. They lived in a community for retired miners. Crystal's mother worked as a nurse's aide. Crystal's father passed away in 1959. From a young age, Crystal loved to sing. She said she could sing before she could walk! Living in Wabash, she heard many different kinds of music. She was inspired by her sister Loretta Lynn's music.

Crystal's love for music grew in her teenage years. She sang in church and performed folk songs. Her sister Loretta encouraged her to tour during summer breaks from high school. When she was 16, Crystal even performed on the Grand Ole Opry when Loretta was sick.

After graduating in 1970, she signed her first record deal with Decca Records. The record label asked her to change her first name because another singer, Brenda Lee, was already with Decca. Loretta Lynn saw a sign for the Krystal fast-food restaurant. She told Crystal, "That's your name. Crystals are bright and shiny, like you." So, Brenda Gail Webb became Crystal Gayle.

Music Career Highlights

Early Recordings and New Sound

Crystal Gayle's first manager was Oliver Lynn, Loretta Lynn's husband. She appeared on a TV show called The Country Palace. Her first song, "I've Cried (The Blue Right Out of My Eyes)" (1970), was written by Loretta Lynn. It reached the top 40 on the country charts. However, her career at Decca Records struggled. The label wanted her to sound just like her sister.

Crystal realized she needed her own style. Loretta Lynn told her, "Quit singing my songs... We have one Loretta Lynn and we don't need another." This advice led Crystal to leave Decca in 1974.

She then signed with United Artists Records in 1974. With producer Allen Reynolds, her music changed. Reynolds helped her create a softer, more relaxed sound. He also helped her reach a wider audience beyond just country music fans. Her first song with United Artists was "Restless." In 1975, she had her first top ten country hit with "Wrong Road Again."

Critics liked Crystal's new country-pop style. They said it was a pleasant mix of country and folk music. In 1976, she had her first number one hit on the country charts with "I'll Get Over You." This was followed by another number one hit, "You Never Miss a Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye)."

Becoming a Crossover Star

Producer Allen Reynolds believed Crystal could be a big pop star. In 1977, songwriter Richard Leigh wrote "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue." This song was originally for another singer, but Reynolds knew it was perfect for Crystal. She recorded the main vocal in one take, and it was so good, they kept it!

"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" was released in 1977. It became number one on the country charts and reached number two on the main pop charts. It was also a huge hit in other countries, like the United Kingdom. Many people consider it her most famous song.

Her album We Must Believe in Magic (1977) was also very successful. It was the first album by a female country artist to sell over a million copies. In 1978, Crystal won a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue."

Her next album, When I Dream (1978), also did very well. It included the number one country hit "Talking in Your Sleep." By the end of 1978, Crystal Gayle was named "Female Vocalist of the Year" by both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.

Continued Success and New Directions

In 1979, Crystal Gayle moved to Columbia Records. She continued to record many popular songs. Her album Miss the Mississippi (1979) had three big hits, including "Half the Way," which was another pop crossover hit.

Crystal also appeared on TV. She hosted her own specials, The Crystal Gayle Special (1979) and Crystal (1980). She even performed on the Great Wall of China with Bob Hope in 1979, becoming the first artist to film a performance there.

In 1982, Crystal Gayle sang with Tom Waits on the soundtrack for the movie One from the Heart. That same year, she moved to Elektra Records. She had a number one duet with Eddie Rabbitt called "You and I." This song also became a top 10 pop hit. Her album True Love (1982) had three number one country hits: "Our Love Is on the Faultline", "Baby, What About You", and "'Til I Gain Control Again".

Crystal continued to have hits throughout the 1980s, including "Straight to the Heart" (1986) and "Cry" (1986). She also sang the theme song for the TV show Masquerade.

From 1985 to 1987, Crystal Gayle sang duets with Gary Morris. Their song "Makin' Up for Lost Time" was a number one hit in 1986. It was also known as the "Lovers' Theme" on the TV show Dallas. They also recorded the theme song for the TV show Another World.

Later Career and Recent Years

In 1990, Crystal Gayle signed with Capitol Records and worked with Allen Reynolds again. Her album Ain't Gonna Worry (1990) was well-received. Its song "Never Ending Song of Love" was her last song to appear on the country charts.

In the 1990s, Crystal recorded albums for smaller labels. She released two gospel albums: Someday (1995) and Joy & Inspiration (1997).

As the year 2000 approached, Crystal explored new music styles. In 1999, she released an album of jazz and classic American songs called Crystal Gayle Sings the Heart and Soul of Hoagy Carmichael. This album honored Hoagy Carmichael, a famous songwriter. In 2000, she released a children's music album called In My Arms. In 2003, she released another album of classic American songs, All My Tomorrows.

In 2019, Crystal Gayle released her album You Don't Know Me: Classic Country. It was her first album to appear on the independent albums chart since 1988. The album received good reviews from critics.

Personal Life

Family photograph of the Webb family. Starting from the left - Herman, Peggy Sue, Don, Crystal, Tommy Butcher, Clara, Jay Lee, Betty, Loretta, Junior

Crystal Gayle has stayed close to her seven siblings. She toured with her brother, Jay Lee Webb, in his band before she became famous. Her older sister, Peggy Sue, has also performed with Crystal for many years.

Crystal is also very close to her oldest sister, Loretta Lynn. Some people thought they had a rivalry, but both sisters have said this is not true. Loretta explained, "People try to make it like we compete, but that's all in their minds... We fight a little bit, but that's just sisters." Crystal added, "We love each other."

Crystal Gayle has been married to Bill Gatzimos since 1971. They met in high school. After Bill finished law school, he became Crystal's manager. They have two children: a daughter, Catherine (born 1983), and a son, Christos (born 1986). Crystal's son is now a record producer and helped produce her 2019 album.

When her first child was born, Crystal continued to work. She said she would breastfeed backstage between shows. When her second child was born, she stayed home more to be with her children. She also has two grandchildren, Elijah and Björn, whom she loves spending time with.

Musical Style and Image

Crystal Gayle's music is mostly country, but it also includes pop and folk music. Because she grew up in a city, she heard many different kinds of music. She once said, "I've always enjoyed folk, pop, rock, gospel, country, everything..." As a child, she liked singers like Lesley Gore and Patsy Cline. As a teenager, she enjoyed folk groups like Peter, Paul and Mary.

Even though she loved traditional country music like her sister Loretta Lynn, Loretta encouraged her to find her own sound. Crystal said, "She (Lynn) said, `No, you gotta go the middle of the road and have a different sound.' And I'd never have made it if I had been straight-ahead country..." This helped her try different styles. Crystal likes to be called a "singer of songs" because she sings many different types of music.

Music experts describe Crystal Gayle's voice as smooth and unique. They say she has a "sweet radio-friendly voice" that made her a perfect country-pop star.

Crystal Gayle is famous for her very long, floor-length hair. As a child, her mother kept her hair short. She decided to grow her hair long after seeing a woman with long hair in Nashville. By the late 1970s, her hair was very long, and her fan club grew a lot. By the early 1990s, her hair reached the floor. She thought about cutting it because of headaches and the time it took to care for it. However, her daughter told her, "You can't cut your hair — you won't be Crystal Gayle." So, she decided to keep it long. She says it's easier to wash and let it go. She still gets her hair trimmed regularly.

Legacy and Awards

Crystal Gayle is known as one of the most successful and important artists who blended country and pop music. Her career helped open doors for other female country-pop singers like Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and Carrie Underwood. She has had 18 number one hits, which is a lot for a female country artist.

Crystal Gayle has received many awards and honors for her achievements. In 2003, Country Music Television included her in their list of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music." In 2008, she was added to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In 2009, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2016, she received the "Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award" from the Academy of Country Music. Crystal said, "It's nice to think maybe your music has influenced other artists who are out there."

In November 2016, almost 50 years after her first performance there, Crystal Gayle was asked to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Carrie Underwood. She was officially welcomed by her sister Loretta Lynn in January 2017. In 2019, she performed "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" at the Country Music Association Awards as part of a special tribute to women in country music.

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Awards

See also

In Spanish: Crystal Gayle para niños

• List of country music performers
• List of Grand Ole Opry Members

Images for kids

• 

  Gayle in Billboard magazine, 1977.

• 

  Krystal burgers, inspiration for Crystal Gayle's stage name

• 

  Crystal Gayle performing with Sherry Lynn at The Grand Ole Opry (2013)