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
Associated acts	Bob Hope Eddie Rabbitt Gary Morris Tom Waits The Statler Brothers

Brenda Gail Webb (born January 9, 1951), known professionally 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 well-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 country singer Loretta Lynn. But Loretta encouraged Crystal to find her own unique sound. Crystal then signed a new record deal and started working with producer Allen Reynolds. Her new music style was a mix of country and pop, often called country pop. This helped her reach a wider audience. Because of this, Crystal Gayle became one of the most successful artists to blend different music styles in the 1970s and 80s.

Crystal Gayle began her singing journey in the 1960s. Her sister Loretta Lynn helped her get a recording contract with Decca Records in 1970. She had some small successes, but was encouraged to create her own musical identity. With producer Allen Reynolds at United Artists Records, Crystal Gayle moved towards a more successful country pop style. In 1975, "Wrong Road Again" became her first big hit. However, her greatest success came in 1977 with "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". This song became number one on the country charts and also became a top five hit on the pop charts. It was a huge hit all over the world.

Crystal Gayle continued to have many hits from the late 1970s through the late 1980s. Some of her biggest songs include "Ready for the Times to Get Better" (1977), "Talking in Your Sleep" (1978), "Half the Way" (1979), and "You and I" (1982). In the 1990s, she explored different types of music. She released an album of inspirational music called Someday (1995) and an album of classic songs called Crystal Gayle Sings the Heart and Soul of Hoagy Carmichael (1999). She also owned a gift shop called Crystal's Fine Gifts and Jewelry. Her most recent album came out in 2019, and she still tours 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. Rolling Stone magazine named her one of the top 100 country artists of all time. She has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and became a member of the famous Grand Ole Opry in 2017.

Early Life and Name Change

Webb family home

Crystal Gayle was born Brenda Gail Webb in Paintsville, Kentucky. She was the youngest of eight children. Her father was a coal miner who became ill, so her family moved to Wabash, Indiana, when she was four years old. Her mother worked as a nurse's aide. Crystal showed an interest in singing from a very young age, saying she could sing before she could walk! Living in Wabash, she heard many different kinds of music, which helped shape her musical taste. She was also inspired by her sister Loretta Lynn's music.

As a teenager, Crystal's interest in music grew. 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 at the Grand Ole Opry when Loretta was sick. She sang "Ribbon of Darkness".

After finishing high school in 1970, she signed her first record deal with Decca Records, the same label as her sister. However, Decca already had a singer named Brenda Lee, so they asked Crystal to change her first name. Loretta Lynn saw a sign for a fast-food restaurant called Krystal and suggested, "That's your name. Crystals are bright and shiny, like you." So, Brenda Gail Webb became "Crystal Gayle," using her middle name, Gail.

Career Highlights

Starting Out and Finding Her Sound (1969–1976)

When Crystal Gayle first started, her sister Loretta Lynn's husband, Oliver Lynn, managed her. She appeared on TV shows and released her first song, "I've Cried (The Blue Right Out of My Eyes)", in 1970. This song, written by Loretta, reached the top 40 on the country charts. However, her career at Decca Records struggled because the label wanted her to sound just like her sister. Critics even called her early songs "little Loretta records."

Crystal realized she needed to find her own style. Loretta Lynn herself 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.

Krystal burgers, the inspiration for Crystal Gayle's stage name

In 1974, Crystal signed a new contract with United Artists Records. With producer Allen Reynolds, her music style changed. Reynolds encouraged her to record softer, more mellow songs that would appeal to both country and pop fans. Her first song with United Artists, "Restless," was released in 1974. It reached number 39 on the country charts. Her first album, Crystal Gayle, came out the same year.

In 1975, she had her first top ten country hit with "Wrong Road Again". Her second album, Somebody Loves You, also had a top 10 hit with its title song. Critics really liked her new country pop sound, calling it "pleasant" and "easygoing." In 1976, she had her first number 1 country hit with "I'll Get Over You". This was followed by another number 1 hit, "You Never Miss a Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye)", and a number 2 hit, "I'll Do It All Over Again".

Becoming a Crossover Star (1977–1979)

Producer Allen Reynolds believed Crystal could become a big pop star if they found the right song. In 1977, songwriter Richard Leigh wrote "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". Crystal recorded the song in just one take! When it was released, it became number 1 on the country charts and reached number 2 on the pop charts. It was also a huge hit in other countries, like the United Kingdom. This song is now known as her signature song.

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

Her fifth album, When I Dream, was released in 1978 and also sold over a million copies. It featured the song "Talking in Your Sleep", which became another number 1 country hit and a top 20 pop hit. By the end of 1978, Crystal had won "Female Vocalist of the Year" from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.

More Success and New Adventures (1979–1989)

In 1979, Crystal Gayle moved to Columbia Records and continued working with Allen Reynolds. She started recording more cover songs, and critics praised her for being so "versatile." Her album Miss the Mississippi (1979) included "Half the Way", which became her third pop crossover hit.

Crystal also started appearing on television. She hosted two prime-time TV specials, The Crystal Gayle Special (1979) and Crystal (1980). She even performed with Bob Hope on the Great Wall of China in 1979, becoming the first artist to film a performance there!

Gayle in Billboard magazine, 1977.

In 1982, Crystal worked with musician Tom Waits on the soundtrack for the movie One from the Heart. Critics loved their collaboration. Also in 1982, she moved to Elektra Records. One of her first songs there was a duet with Eddie Rabbitt called "You and I". This song became number 1 on the country charts and a top 10 pop hit. Her album True Love (1982) had three number 1 country hits: "Our Love Is on the Faultline", "Baby, What About You", and "'Til I Gain Control Again".

Her 1983 album, Cage the Songbird, included the pop crossover hits "The Sound of Goodbye" and "Turning Away". She continued to have number 1 hits like "Straight to the Heart" (1986) and "Cry" (1986).

Between 1985 and 1987, Crystal sang several duets with country artist Gary Morris. Their song "Makin' Up for Lost Time" reached number 1 on the country charts in 1986 and was used as the theme song for the TV show Dallas. They also recorded the theme song for Another World, which was a top 10 hit.

In 1987, Crystal Gayle opened a gift shop in Nashville called "Crystal's Fine Gifts and Jewelry." The shop sold various gifts, including jewelry and different types of crystals. She enjoyed running the business, which closed in 2008.

Later Career and Recent Years (1990–Present)

In 1990, Crystal Gayle signed with Capitol Records and worked with producer Allen Reynolds again. Her album Ain't Gonna Worry (1990) was praised by critics. Its song "Never Ending Song of Love" was her last song to appear on the country charts. Her next album, Three Good Reasons, came out in 1992.

As the 1990s continued, Crystal recorded albums for smaller labels and worked on special projects. She released two gospel albums: Someday (1995) and Joy & Inspiration (1997).

In 1999, she released an album of jazz and classic American songs called Crystal Gayle Sings the Heart and Soul of Hoagy Carmichael. It was a tribute to Hoagy Carmichael, a composer she had worked with. The album featured covers of his songs like "Stardust" and "Georgia on My Mind". Critics loved this album. In 2000, she released a children's music album called In My Arms. Her second album of American standards, All My Tomorrows, came out in 2003.

For several years, Crystal worked on her next album, which would feature covers of classic country songs. In 2019, she released it under the title You Don't Know Me: Classic Country. This album was her first to appear on the charts since 1988 and received positive reviews.

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 always been close to her seven siblings. Before she signed her first record deal, she toured with her brother, Jay Lee Webb, in his band. On her 2019 album, she even covered his song "You Never Were Mine." Her older sister, Peggy Sue, has also been a background singer in Crystal's band for many years.

Crystal also has a very close relationship with her oldest sister, Loretta Lynn. While some people thought they had a rivalry, both sisters have said that's 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. And we never fight over the music business." Crystal added, "Of course, we're sisters. We can bicker... but we really didn't have a problem. I look up to my sister... We love each other."

Crystal Gayle has been married to her husband, Bill Gatzimos, since 1971. They dated in high school. After Bill finished law school, he became Crystal's manager and the president of their company, Gayle Enterprises. Crystal believes their marriage works because they let each other pursue their "own interests" and give each other "breathe." They have two children, a daughter named Catherine (born 1983) and a son named Christos (born 1986). Their son is now a record producer and helped produce Crystal's 2019 album.

When her first child was born, Crystal continued to work a lot. When her second child was born, she decided to stay home more with her children. She also has two grandchildren, Elijah and Björn, whom she loves spending time with.

Musical Styles

Crystal Gayle's music is mainly rooted in country, but it also includes elements of pop and folk music. Unlike her older siblings who grew up in rural Kentucky, Crystal spent her childhood in a city. This meant 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 artists like Lesley Gore and Patsy Cline. As a teenager, she loved folk groups like Peter, Paul and Mary.

Even though she loved her sister Loretta Lynn's traditional country sound, Loretta encouraged Crystal to develop her own unique style. Crystal said Loretta told her, "No, you gotta go the middle of the road and have a different sound." This advice helped her explore different musical styles. Crystal likes to call herself "a singer of songs" because she loves to sing all different types of music, even though country is her main root. She always tries to find high-quality songs to record.

Music critics often describe Crystal Gayle's singing as smooth and different from her sister's. They note her "signature phrasing" and "sophisticated material." Rolling Stone described her as having "a polished persona and singing style tailor-made for country-pop crossover."

Image

Crystal Gayle is famous for her unique look, especially her very long, floor-length hair. When she was a child, her mother kept her hair short. But after seeing a woman with very long hair in Nashville, Crystal was inspired to grow her own hair to her knees. As her hair grew longer in the late 1970s, her fan club also grew a lot!

By the early 1990s, her hair reached the floor. She thought about cutting it because it could cause headaches and took a lot of time to care for. However, her daughter told her, "You can't cut your hair — you won't be Crystal Gayle." So, she decided not to. Crystal says it's easier to have long, straight hair because it's simple to wash and let dry. She still sees a hairstylist and cuts about 9 to 12 inches of hair each year.

In 1983, People magazine named her one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World."

Legacy and Awards

Crystal Gayle is known as one of the most successful and important country pop artists who blended different music styles. Her success helped open doors for other female country pop singers like Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and Carrie Underwood. She has had 18 number 1 hits, which is a huge achievement in country music history.

In recent years, Crystal Gayle has received many awards for her accomplishments. In 2003, Country Music Television included her on their list of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music." In 2008, she was inducted into 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 was nice to think her music might have influenced other artists. In November 2016, almost 50 years after her first guest appearance, Crystal Gayle was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Carrie Underwood. She was officially inducted 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

Images for kids

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

See also

In Spanish: Crystal Gayle para niños

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