Dottie West

West's exposure to country music in childhood influenced her continued music education at Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. After marrying, the family moved to Ohio where West made her first appearances singing on regional television. Her aspirations to write and record country led to West getting a Starday Records recording contract in 1959. West and her family then moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she continued recording and releasing unsuccessful singles for Starday. In 1963, West signed with RCA Victor, where she had first success. Her self-penned "Here Comes My Baby" (1964) became a top ten US country song and won her a Grammy. Writing and co-writing her own material, West had more top ten Nashville Sound-influenced singles like "Would You Hold It Against Me", "Paper Mansions" and "Rings of Gold".


West continued recording for RCA through 1976, having a crossover pop single with 1973's "Country Sunshine". The latter was also a Coca-Cola commercial jingle that was played routinely on television. Moving to United Artists Records (which later bought Liberty Records, West had her peak success in her middle age. In the late 1970s, she recorded two albums with Kenny Rogers. Their first duet "Every Time Two Fools Collide" (1978) became her first chart-topping single and was followed by four more top ten songs. The newfound success led to her own solo career reigniting. In 1980, West had her first chart-topping solo single with "A Lesson in Leavin'" and was followed by several more top 20 songs.


In the early 1980s, West began an acting career, appearing on television shows such as The Love Boat and films like The Aurora Encounter. She signed a new recording contract with Permian Records and her last album was released there in 1984. West continued appearing on television and touring. However, her increased spending habits would lead to her filing for bankruptcy in 1990. Her personal possessions were sold in a public auction by the Internal Revenue Service and she was forced to sell her home. While in the midst of planning a career comeback, West was killed in a car accident in 1991. Following her death, her life was made into a television movie and she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Early life[edit]

Dorothy Marie Marsh was born in Frog Pond, Tennessee, a community roughly 64 miles (103 km) northeast of Nashville in Macon County. She was the eldest of ten children born to Pelina Artha (née Jones) and William Hollis Marsh.^[1] Hollis Marsh was a musician who played the guitar and fiddle.^[2] Pelina Marsh was a homemaker but also worked various odd jobs to support the family.^[3] Hollis suffered from alcoholism which caused him to become abusive and unable to hold a job.^[4] The Marsh family lived a reportedly impoverished life, often running out of food and other resources.^[5][6][7] In Dorothy's early years, the family lived in dilapidated homes. At one point a new home was being constructed by Pelina's extended family but was burnt to the ground by Hollis before its completion.^[8]


Hollis Marsh was drafted during World War II but was discharged after three months. The family received military allotment checks which provided enough financial stability to build their own home.^[9] Pelina Marsh then took on a job at a tree nursery to provide for her children. Being the oldest child, Dorothy took on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings while her mother worked.^[10] Dorothy and Pelina also worked in the fields of their neighbor's farm, picking fruits and vegetables.^[11] At age 12, Dorothy raised money through a school fundraiser to buy her first guitar.^[12]


During her teen years, Dorothy attended Central High School in McMinnville, Tennessee.^[13] During this period, her father continued abusing alcohol and physically abusing his children including Dorothy. On some occasions, Hollis Marsh would hold his wife and children at gunpoint.^[14] Around age 11, Dorothy began being repeatedly molested by her father. Too afraid to report it, the abuse continued for several years. She never spoke of the abuse during her lifetime. As a result of her father's sexual abuse, Dorothy had a miscarriage at age 15.^[15]


At age 17, her father had found a job working for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. He threatened to take Dorothy out of school so she could move to Detroit with him. After being told the news by her father, Dorothy became uncontrollably emotional at school.^[13] The same day, she confessed the molestation to her high school teachers.^[15] Hollis Marsh was then arrested on rape and incest charges. Dorothy subsequently went to live with the county sheriff for several weeks while her mother moved the family into a McMinnville apartment.^[16] Dorothy later testified in court against her father.^[17] Hollis was ultimately found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 40 years at Tennessee State Prison. He eventually died in prison in 1967.^[18][15][19]


Dorothy eventually moved back into her mother's McMinnville apartment. Her mother had to go on welfare to support her family. Along with her mother, Dorothy became a waitress at a local restaurant.^[4] Her mother eventually moved the family into a house and opened up her own restaurant in McMinnville.^[20][21][22] During this time, Dorothy began going by the name of Dottie. She also began singing and playing guitar in a high school band called The Coonskins.^[4] The group played at high school events and also at square dances, picnics and other local events.^[23] Following high school graduation, a McMinnville businessman got Dottie a music scholarship to attend Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. During her first day, Dottie met fellow student and steel guitar player Bill West^[24] whom she later married. As a result, she changed her name to Dottie West.^[25]