Dolly Parton, Songteller

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946 in Sevierville, Tennessee. She is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actress, author, and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Parton began performing as a child, singing on local radio and television programs in the Eastern Tennessee area. By age nine, she was appearing on The Cas Walker Show in Knoxville, Tennessee. At thirteen, she was recording (the single "Puppy Love") on a small Louisiana label, Goldband Records, and appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The day after she graduated from high school in 1964, Parton moved to Nashville. Parton's initial success came as a songwriter, having signed with Combine Publishing she wrote a number of charting singles, including two top ten hits: Bill Phillips' 1966 record "Put it off Until Tomorrow", and Skeeter Davis' 1967 hit "Fuel to the Flame". Parton went on to sign with Monument Records in late 1965 where she achieved minimal success. Though she expressed a desire to record country material, Monument resisted, thinking her voice was not suited to the genre. It was only after her composition, "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," as recorded by Bill Phillips (and with Parton on harmony), went to number six on the country music charts in 1966, that the label relented and allowed her to record country. In February 1971, Parton had her first number-one single, "Joshua." She has had many chart hits since then - some of which are "I Will Always Love You, "Love is Like a Butterfly, and The Bargain Store. Parton had her own syndicated-television variety show, Dolly! (1976 -1977). During this period, many performers, including Rose Maddox, Kitty Wells, Olivia Newton-John, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt, covered her songs. Dolly Parton's 1977 hit Here You Come Again, became her first million-seller, topping the country albums chart and reaching No. 20 on the pop albums chart. "9 to 5", the theme song to the feature film 9 to 5 from