94.3 8Z8 FM ARTIST PROFILE PATTY LOVELESS A discouraged Patty left Nashville with the Wilburns' drum- mer Perry Lovelace for life in North Carolina. The two By Carrie Dunne were married for 10 years during which time Patty sang in Emotion --that is what fuels the heart -wrenching tra- rock -n -roll clubs to put groceries on the table. Then in ditional country ballads and sassy honky-tonk songs of Patty 1985, Patty again felt the tug of her country roots and Loveless. When you listen to a Patty Loveless tune, you headed back to Nashville.Leaving a crumbling marriage hear a song filled with feelings. Not only does Patty draw on her own emotions, but she connects with others, bring- ing forth their feelings of hope, loss, and excitement."I "When 3 oin.g, 3 buy to. think afloat ail the just always had a love for singin' a song and gettin' lost into the words of it, even as a kid.It was my form of communi- tnu.tPc, di the pain, ali tPce iffa.ppineoo,euex- cation". tR,ing. 3'ue even Pce.and un feet and iuing it oat" Recently, Patty has been communicating with a brand --Jatt.L'a.ueeeoo new album, When Fallen Angels Fly."To me, the title of this album is about embracing the fact that we're all human and that it's okay," Patty says. "You look around you and behind, she set out with a new name Loveless (which is you realize everyone makes mistakes, everyone has short- how her ex-husband's family pronounced the name). comings -- and that's part of how we become who we're Patty signed with MCA records in 1985, and released supposed to be. We don't have all the answers, only herfirst single in '86.But it wasn't until two years the journey, and those mistakes are part of it" later that she had her first Top Ten hit song,"If My Patty's journey began in Pikesville, Ken- Heart Had Windows".Since then she's had tucky. She was born a coal miner's daugh- hit songs each year. And after making a ter, the sixth of seven children of John switch to Epic Records, Patty reached the Ramey and his wife, Naomi (John died top of the charts with her first national of black lung disease when Patty was #1 "Blame It On Your Heart". 20).Patty was a shy child.She But with her success has also loved to sing but not in front of come hardship.In the midst of her anyone. When her parents asked sixth album "OnlyWhat I Feel", Patty her to perform for guests, she'd faced emergency vocal chord sur- run into the kitchen and sing loud gery and 3 months of forced si- enough for her unseen audience lence. Her voice is stronger than to hear in the living room. ever. Her producer/husband The young singer used to Emory Gordy Jr. claims, "The dif- spend hours in her room alone ference is amazing.Before, she with her guitar her dad bought sounded like a bird in a cage; now her when she was I I . Before she her voice is suddenly free" was in high school she was sing- With her new freedom, Patty ing with her brother Roger at lo- sings her heart out on her new al- cal fairs and shows. And when she bum. "The main thing I'm trying to was 14, Patty arrived on Nashville's do," explains Patty, "is reach people's doorstep touting 30 songs she had hearts and souls, so they feel it in their written. She caught the ear of Porter guts. And maybe I'm saying some things a Wagoner and Dolly Parton who helped lot of women can't or don't know how to hook her up with the Grand 01 Opry's say to their men --and maybe for the men, lis- Wilburn Brothers.She replaced her distant tening to me helps them understand what their part- cousin, Loretta Lynn as "the girl singer" in the group. ners are feeling a little better." After a short run of shows at concerts and fairs, the So, when you hear Patty Loveless, let yourself listen- group decided she was too young for a professional career. -and feel. 6 1-800-4-94.3-!Ig CMS/HOTCOUNTRY NEWS NOVEMBER 1994.