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  • Oral History

Kitty Wells & Johnnie Wright

May 22, 1991 OHC318 60 min.
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Biography


Pioneer country performer. Born August 30, 1919. Real name: Muriel Ellen Deason. Began career in 1934 as part of the Deason Sisters. Married Johnnie Wright in 1937 and became part of the act, Johnnie Wright and the Harmony Girls. In 1939 traveled and performed with the newly organized duo of Johnnie & Jack (Johnnie Wright and Jack Anglin). Recorded the breakthrough song “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” in 1952 as Kitty Wells. Member, Country Music Hall of Fame®.

Interview Summary

1991 May 22
(60 minutes)
Country music pioneers Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright talk about the career of Patsy Cline. This interview was conducted as research for the Country Music Foundation-complied The Patsy Cline Collection (MCA, 1991). Discussion includes memories of Cline’s early career, including her early stage costumes; their early impressions of Cline’s star potential; comments on Cline’s singing style and her work with Owen Bradley; Cline’s popularity with the audience; memories from appearing on the same Grand Ole Opry shows with Cline; comments on their experiences as traveling entertainers during the 1950s and 1960s; Cline’s persona offstage; and comments about Cline’s impact on country music.