Patsy Montana

A pioneer in country music, Patsy the yodeling cowgirl, grew up in Hope, Arkansas. In 1930 she moved to California with an older brother, won a talent contest, and began performing on radio. She joined a group called the Montana Cowgirls, and that groups leader, 'Stuart Hamblin' renamed her Patsy. Moving on to Chicago in 1933, she joined the Prarie Ramblers and moved with them to Manhattan in 1935. When her husband was transferred to California, the family moved west, and she went into temporary retirement in the 1950's, returning to the tour circuit with country-western, folk, and bluegrass concerts in the 1960's through 1980's.