The Words and Music of Dolly Parton: Getting to Know Country's ''Iron Butterfly'' (The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection)

This insightful biography provides a closer look at one of the entertainment world's biggest stars, with a focus on what got her to the top—and what has kept her there.Dolly Parton has an enviable record of accomplishment as a performer, songwriter, recording artist, businesswoman, and philanthropist. She has triumphed on Broadway, in the movies, and even with her own theme park. The Words and Music of Dolly Parton probes its subject's unique singing voice and prolific abilities as a songwriter, as well as her impressive business savvy, fearless attitude, and an imagination as towering as the Smoky Mountains among which she grew up.This book focuses on Parton's most important albums and songwriting style, examining her career from her early days in the east Tennessee mountains through her national television exposure on the Porter Wagoner Show, her crossover success in pop music, and her return to her acoustic/bluegrass roots. In addition, it explores Parton's story songs and characters, the spirituality reflected in her music, and her important collaborations with other artists. CONTENTS......Page 8 SERIES FOREWORD......Page 12 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 14 INTRODUCTION......Page 16 THE MUSIC......Page 17 THE CRITICISM......Page 18 DOLLY DATA......Page 19 YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL OUT OF EAST TENNESSEE, BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE EAST TENNESSEE OUT OF THE GIRL......Page 22 HER FIRST RECORDINGS......Page 25 PURSUING HER DREAM TO WRITE SONGS AND PERFORM......Page 26 FRED FOSTER AND MONUMENT RECORDS: A STAR IS DISCOVERED......Page 28 PARTON’S FIRST ALBUM: HELLO, I’M DOLLY......Page 34 BUTTERFLIES AND THERAPISTS AND HANK WILLIAMS......Page 37 THE PORTER WAGONER YEARS: A TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN ROSE BLOOMS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION......Page 40 BUCK TRENT: WAGONMASTER, BANJO STYLIST, AND INVENTOR......Page 42 DOLLY PARTON THROUGH THE LENS OF LES LEVERETT......Page 45 DOLLY’S RCA YEARS......Page 47 DOLLY PARTON: THE CHARLES DICKENS OF COUNTRY MUSIC......Page 68 SOUTHERN SETTINGS AND CHARACTERS......Page 69 THE DARK SIDE......Page 70 PITIFUL, SICK, AND DYING CHILDREN......Page 71 ROMANCE!......Page 72 THE SPIRITUAL—FAITH AND MYSTERY......Page 74 DOLLY’S RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND AND FAITH......Page 76 DOLLY PARTON: A SEEKER......Page 77 DOLLY’S LETTER TO HEAVEN......Page 78 PATRIOTISM AND SPIRITUALITY......Page 80 PARTON, POST-PORTER......Page 84 DOLLY’S APPEARANCE......Page 85 DOLLY’S MUSIC CROSSES OVER......Page 86 HEARTBREAKER......Page 89 GOODNESS GRACIOUS, GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!......Page 90 SHE’S RIDING IN A WHITE LIMOZEEN . . .......Page 92 NASHVILLE COFFEE TALK WITH FRED VAIL......Page 93 DOLLY DANCES WITH THE MOON......Page 99 DOLLY PARTON: HIGH PRIESTESS OF HARMONY......Page 116 PARTON/HARRIS/RONSTADT......Page 117 REMINISCING WITH JOHN STARLING, MD......Page 120 FRED FOSTER’S WINNING HAND......Page 126 BURLAP AND SATIN: WILLIE AND DOLLY......Page 128 DOLLY PARTON AND KENNY ROGERS: ANOTHER RIGHT COMBINATION......Page 129 COUNTRY MUSIC’S PIONEERING HONKY-TONK ANGELS: DOLLY, LORETTA, AND TAMMY......Page 130 DOLLY AND VINNIE......Page 132 NEW TRIOS AND DUOS......Page 133 DOLLY PARTON, ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR......Page 136 DOLLY CONQUERS HOLLYWOOD AND RETURNS TO TELEVISION......Page 137 THE LIGHTS OF BROADWAY!......Page 140 PARTON RETURNS TO HER MUSICAL ROOTS......Page 142 HUNGRY AGAIN......Page 143 THE BLUEGRASS TRILOGY......Page 146 REFLECTIONS FROM STEVE BUCKINGHAM, PRODUCER......Page 149 A NEW LABEL, A TOURING BROADWAY MUSICAL, AND A NEW RETAIL VENTURE......Page 160 NEW ALBUMS, MOVIES, TOURS, PHILANTHROPIC PROJECTS . . .......Page 161 DOLLY PARTON: BACKWOODS BARBIE......Page 162 DOLLY, THE BOXED SET......Page 164 SOMETIMES SIDEMEN AND MUSICAL COLLABORATORS: THE GRASCALS......Page 165 THE HALL OF FAME......Page 172 AWARDS AND HONORS......Page 174 DISCOGRAPHY......Page 184 NOTES......Page 196 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 200 INDEX......Page 202 Dolly Parton Has An Enviable Record Of Accomplishment As A Performer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, Businesswoman, And Philanthropist. She Has Triumphed On Broadway, In The Movies, And Even With Her Own Theme Park. The Words And Music Of Dolly Parton Probes Its Subject's Unique Singing Voice And Prolific Abilities As A Songwriter, As Well As Her Impressive Business Savvy, Fearless Attitude, And An Imagination As Towering As The Smoky Mountains Among Which She Grew Up. This Book Focuses On Parton's Most Important Albums And Songwriting Style, Examining Her Career From Her Early Days In The East Tennessee Mountains Through Her National Television Exposure On The Porter Wagoner Show, Her Crossover Success In Pop Music, And Her Return To Her Acoustic/bluegrass Roots. In Addition, It Explores Parton's Story Songs And Characters, The Spirituality Reflected In Her Music, And Her Important Collaborations With Other Artists. Nancy Cardwell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [173]-174), Discography And Index. This Insightful Biography Provides A Closer Look At One Of The Entertainment World's Biggest Stars, With A Focus On What Got Her To The Top—and What Has Kept Her There. • Rare Photographs Of Parton's Early Career From Legendary Photographer Les Leverett, Retired Staff Photographer For The Grand Ole Opry • Interviews With Many Of Parton's Collaborators Over The Years, Including Producers, Engineers, And Other Artists • A Discography Of Dolly Parton's Albums And Hit Songs And A List Of Her Awards