Patsy Montana
| Patsy Montana | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ruby Rose Blevins |
| Also known as | The Cowboy's Sweetheart |
| Born |
October 30, 1908 Beaudry, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | May 3, 1996 (aged 87) San Jacinto, California, U.S. |
| Genres | country, Western |
| Occupation(s) | singer, actress |
| Instruments | vocals, guitar, fiddle |
| Years active | 1933–1996 |
| Labels | Vocalion, RCA Records |
| Associated acts | Gene Autry, Roy Rogers |
| Website | Patsy Montana Site |
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 “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” , performed by Patsy Montana, Encyclopedia of Arkansas
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Ruby Rose Blevins (October 30, 1908 – May 3, 1996), known professionally as Patsy Montana, was an American country music singer, songwriter and actress. Montana was the first female country performer to have a million-selling single with her signature song "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart", and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Ruby Blevins (she added an "e" to Ruby in her late teens) was born in Beaudry, Arkansas and grew up near Hope. She had ten siblings, all of them boys, However, two died early from an accidental fire.
In 1929, Blevins went to California to study violin at the University of the West (now UCLA). She won a local talent contest with her singing, yodelling, and playing the guitar and first prize was an opportunity to play on the Hollywood Breakfast Club radio program.
In the summer of 1933, Blevins went with two of her brothers to the Chicago World's Fair. The trip's mission was to enter a large, prize watermelon the Blevins had raised, and Rubye was invited to go, mainly to meet up with two pen pals, Millie and Dolly Good (The Girls of the Golden West). While in Chicago, she auditioned for a crooner's role. However, she began laughing halfway through the song. The producer on hand fell in love with her "giggle" and auditioned her instead at WLS-AM for a group called the Prairie Ramblers. Blevins and the Ramblers became regulars on WLS's National Barn Dance program. The Prairie Ramblers also backed Blevins on most of her hits with ARC Records, Decca Records, and RCA Records.
In 1934, Blevins' repertoire included "Montana Plains", a reworking of a song originally called "Texas Plains". Blevins further altered the composition, which became her signature song, "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart". Released in 1935, the song made Blevins the first female country recording artist to have a million seller. It was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. Blevins performed on National Barn Dance until the 1950s, and worked with the likes of Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, Red Foley, the Girls of the Golden West and George Gobel.
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