Patty Loveless facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patty Loveless
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Loveless performing at the Grand Ole Opry in 2007.
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| Born |
Patricia Lee Ramey
January 4, 1957 Pikeville, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active |
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| Spouse(s) |
Terry Lovelace
(m. 1973; div. 1986)Emory Gordy Jr.
(m. 1989) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels |
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Patty Loveless (born Patricia Lee Ramey on January 4, 1957) is a famous American country music singer. She started singing when she was a teenager. In 1985, she signed her first record deal with MCA Records. She became well-known with her song "If My Heart Had Windows".
Patty Loveless released many albums. Four of her albums, Honky Tonk Angel, Only What I Feel, When Fallen Angels Fly, and The Trouble with the Truth, sold over a million copies in the United States. She had 44 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Five of these songs reached number one: "Timber, I'm Falling in Love", "Chains", "Blame It on Your Heart", "You Can Feel Bad", and "Lonely Too Long".
Her music mixes different styles, like neotraditional country, country pop, and bluegrass music. People often compare her singing voice to Loretta Lynn and Emmylou Harris. She has worked with other artists like Vince Gill and George Jones. Her husband, Emory Gordy Jr., produced most of her albums. Patty Loveless mostly stopped performing in 2009. However, she has still sung on other artists' songs since then. She has won many awards, including five from the Country Music Association and two Grammy Awards.
Patty Loveless was honored by being added to the Country Music Hall of Fame on October 22, 2023.
Early Life and Music Start
Patty Loveless was born Patricia Lee Ramey on January 4, 1957. She was born in Pikeville, Kentucky. Her parents were Naomi and John Ramey. She was the sixth of seven children. Her father worked in a coal mine. He got a lung disease called black lung disease from his job. Because of this, her family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, for his medical care. Her father passed away in 1979 from the disease.
When she was 11, Patty started playing guitar and writing songs with her brother, Roger. They performed together at local events. A music group called the Wilburn Brothers saw them perform. They encouraged her to keep singing. After high school, she toured with the Wilburn Brothers as a singer in their band. In 1973, she married Terry Lovelace, who was the band's drummer. She then changed her name to Patty Loveless.
In the mid-1980s, Patty moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She wanted to become a country music artist. She was inspired by new country artists like Dwight Yoakam and Randy Travis. In Nashville, she sang demo recordings for other artists. She also signed a songwriting contract. Her brother Roger sent a demo tape of her own songs to MCA Records. In July 1985, she signed with MCA Records.
Music Career Highlights
Starting Out: 1985–1990
Patty Loveless began recording music with producers Tony Brown and Emory Gordy Jr.. Her first few songs, released in 1985 and 1986, did not become big hits. However, fans loved her song "I Did" at concerts. This helped convince MCA to release her first album.
Her first album, Patty Loveless, came out in 1986. Patty wrote the song "I Did" when she was 17. It is the only song she wrote that became a single. She toured with George Jones to support her album. Critics praised her strong voice. During this time, she also divorced her first husband, Terry Lovelace.
In 1988, her second album, If My Heart Had Windows, was released. The song "If My Heart Had Windows" became her first top-10 hit. Another song, "A Little Bit in Love", reached number two on the country charts. Critics liked her honest voice. In 1988, Patty Loveless became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Her third album, Honky Tonk Angel, was released in late 1988. Soon after, she married Emory Gordy Jr. The album had several hit songs. "Timber, I'm Falling in Love" became her first number-one song. This song was written by Kostas. "Chains" became her second number-one hit in 1990. Honky Tonk Angel sold over a million copies. This album helped make Loveless a major country music star.
Later Years with MCA: 1990–1991
In 1990, Patty Loveless released her fourth album, On Down the Line. The title song was a top-five hit. Other songs like "I'm That Kind of Girl" also did well. This album sold over 500,000 copies. Critics called it one of her best albums.
Her last album with MCA was Up Against My Heart in 1991. The song "Hurt Me Bad (In a Real Good Way)" was a top-five hit. Famous singers like Dolly Parton and Vince Gill sang on some of the album's songs. In 1992, Loveless left MCA Records. Her last MCA release was a Greatest Hits album in 1993, which also sold over 500,000 copies.
Moving to Epic Records and Big Success: 1992–1997
Patty Loveless signed with Epic Records in late 1992. Before recording, she had surgery for a problem with her vocal cords. After recovering, she released Only What I Feel in 1993. This album was a big success for her. Her first song for Epic, "Blame It on Your Heart", became her third number-one hit. In 1993, she also sang on George Jones's song "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair". This song won an award from the Country Music Association.
Only What I Feel had three more hit songs: "Nothin' but the Wheel", "You Will", and "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye". The last two songs reached the top ten. "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" was nominated for a Grammy Award. Critics said her voice was even stronger after her surgery.
Her second Epic album was When Fallen Angels Fly in 1994. The song "I Try to Think About Elvis" reached number three. Other top-ten hits from this album included "Here I Am" and "You Don't Even Know Who I Am". When Fallen Angels Fly won Album of the Year from the Country Music Association. She also won Top Female Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music in 1995 and 1996. This album sold over a million copies by 1996.
More Success at Epic: 1996–1999
In 1996, Epic released her album The Trouble with the Truth. The song "You Can Feel Bad" became her fourth number-one hit. "Lonely Too Long" became her fifth and final number-one song. The album also had the top-ten hit "She Drew a Broken Heart". Patty said the album was about "seeing things as they are." The Trouble with the Truth was nominated for Album of the Year awards. It also received two Grammy nominations. By 1998, this album also sold over a million copies.
In late 1997, she had a top-20 hit with George Jones called "You Don't Seem to Miss Me". This song was on her album Long Stretch of Lonesome. Other songs from this album, like "To Have You Back Again" and "High on Love", also charted well. "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" won an award for Vocal Event of the Year. In 1998, she won her first Grammy Award for the song "Same Old Train". Long Stretch of Lonesome sold over 500,000 copies.
Her next album was a collection called Classics in 1999. It had her past hits and three new songs. Two new songs, "Can't Get Enough" and "My Kind of Woman/My Kind of Man" (a duet with Vince Gill), were released as singles. Patty Loveless and Vince Gill won an award for their duet. Classics sold over 500,000 copies by 2002. She took a short break from recording due to health issues for herself and her husband.
Bluegrass Music and Later Years: 2000–Present
Patty Loveless returned in 2000 with the album Strong Heart. It had two top-20 country songs: "That's the Kind of Mood I'm In" and "The Last Thing on My Mind".
She then released two bluegrass albums. The first was Mountain Soul in 2001. Patty had wanted to make a bluegrass album for a long time. This album included guest singers like Earl Scruggs and Ricky Skaggs. The song "Out of Control Raging Fire" was a duet with Travis Tritt. Critics loved this album, calling it very emotional. Mountain Soul was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album. In 2002, she released a Christmas bluegrass album called Bluegrass & White Snow: A Mountain Christmas.
Her album On Your Way Home came out in 2003. Patty wanted to mix the bluegrass sound with more modern instruments. The song "Lovin' All Night" became her last top-20 hit. The album was praised for her singing and the mix of instruments. She received more Female Vocalist of the Year nominations. In 2004, she sang with Alan Jackson on his song "Monday Morning Church".
Dreamin' My Dreams was her last album for Epic Records in 2005. It included covers of songs by other artists. Critics liked how the album told stories about everyday life.
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In 2006, she sang a duet with rock singer Bob Seger on his album. She then took a break from recording. Her next album, Sleepless Nights, was released in 2008. This album was a collection of cover songs. She dedicated it to her brother Roger and her sister Dottie. Critics praised her singing on these classic songs. She also sang on George Strait's album Troubadour. Sleepless Nights was nominated for a Grammy Award.
In 2009, Loveless released her most recent studio album, Mountain Soul II. This album was a follow-up to her first Mountain Soul project. It also featured acoustic and bluegrass music. Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris were among the guest singers. The album included traditional Christian songs.
Although she mostly stopped performing in 2009, Patty Loveless has still sung on other artists' albums. She sang on Miranda Lambert's album in 2010. She also joined a program to raise awareness about a lung disease, as her sister Dottie had passed away from it. She has appeared on albums by Angaleena Presley, Elizabeth Cook, Trisha Yearwood, and Carly Pearce.
In October 2022, Patty Loveless performed at a benefit concert in Kentucky. This concert raised money for flood victims. She also performed with Chris Stapleton at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards in November 2022.
Musical Style and Influence
Patty Loveless is known for her strong and emotional singing voice. People often compare her voice to Loretta Lynn. She has had success with both upbeat and slower, emotional songs. Critics say she sings with honesty and heart. She mixes traditional country sounds with country rock.
Her husband, Emory Gordy Jr., produced her albums. He helped her choose songs that felt real. Patty Loveless looks for songs that tell a story. She likes songs that show different sides of relationships.
Patty Loveless has influenced many country music artists. In 2017, she was named one of the most powerful women in country music. Singer Carly Pearce has said that Loveless influenced her career. They even sang together on the song "Dear Miss Loretta" in 2021.
Sara Evans has also said that Patty Loveless is one of her favorite artists. She wants her own music to sound like Loveless's traditional country style. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine listed Loveless as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
In April 2023, the Country Music Association announced that Patty Loveless would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was officially inducted by her friend Vince Gill on November 22, 2023.
Personal Life
Patty Loveless married Terry Lovelace in 1973. She changed the spelling of her last name to Loveless. They divorced in 1986. Her second marriage was to Emory Gordy Jr. in February 1989. Emory Gordy Jr. has been a bassist and producer for almost all of Patty's albums. He has also produced albums for other famous bands like the Bellamy Brothers and Alabama. Patty has said that her relationship with Emory inspired some of her songs. Her brother Roger, who helped her early in her career, passed away in June 2022 at age 72.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Patty Loveless (1987)
- If My Heart Had Windows (1988)
- Honky Tonk Angel (1988)
- On Down the Line (1990)
- Up Against My Heart (1991)
- Only What I Feel (1993)
- When Fallen Angels Fly (1994)
- The Trouble with the Truth (1996)
- Long Stretch of Lonesome (1997)
- Strong Heart (2000)
- Mountain Soul (2001)
- Bluegrass & White Snow: A Mountain Christmas (2002)
- On Your Way Home (2003)
- Dreamin' My Dreams (2005)
- Sleepless Nights (2008)
- Mountain Soul II (2009)
Awards and Nominations
Patty Loveless has won five Country Music Association awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, and two Grammy Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Patty Loveless para niños
