Dolly-Parton

Dolly Parton, born Jan. 19th, 1946 in Locust Ridge Tenn. to a poor family of twelve children, who would all grow up with them eventually. She learned quickly how to navigate her way out of her difficulties by using her rich and imaginative imagination. Before she began learning to write or read, she was making up her own songs. She got her first guitar when she was 8 and began singing on an Knoxville Tenn radio station at age 11. In the same year, she recorded her first recording on Gold Band Records a tiny independent label. She made a name for her locally during the high school system, but she wanted to be on of having a larger stage. After graduating high school in 1964, she immediately moved to Nashville. Dumb Blonde was her first track to hit the charts for Monument Records. At about this time Porter Wagoner was looking for the next girl to perform on his syndicated television show. Parton took the offer when she was signed in 1967 by RCA Records in 1968 and joined with the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. But she resigned from the show in 1974, as her own albums like Joshua Coat of Many Colors and Jolene had begun charting their collaborative efforts. Parton wrote I Will Always love You to Wagoner after the breakup. It reached number one. The first time it reached number 1 was in 1974.