Patti Page (born Clara Ann Fowler,
November
8, 1927)
was one of the best-known female singers in traditional pop music. She is unusual in that
she came to traditional pop from country
music, and some of her recordings are somewhat country flavored. She is
sometimes considered the first major crossover artist to popularize country
music to the general public. Her records span the era from 1949 to 1981.
Records vary as
to whether Clara Ann Fowler was born in Claremore or Muskogee, Oklahoma. In either case, she became a
featured singer on a 15-minute radio program on radio station KTUL, Tulsa, Oklahoma, at age 18. The program was
sponsored by Page
Milk Company and so Clara Ann Fowler became Patti Page.
In 1946, Jack Rael,
a band manager, came to Tulsa to do a one-nighter. He turned on the radio, and
heard the musical program with the 18-year-old featured vocalist. He liked what
he heard, and asked her to join the Jimmy Joy band, which Rael managed.
Eventually both left the band; and Rael became Patti's personal manager and
leader of the backup orchestra for many of her recordings.
Although both
Mary Ford and Jane Turzy became known for it, Patti Page was the first singer
to record multiple tracks on the same song, on her recording of
"Confess" in 1947. On some of the records, she was billed as "Vocal by
Patti Page, Patti Page, and Patti Page," in at least case being given
quadruple billing.
Among the songs
she is known for recording:
[The
Official Patti Page Website]