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Patsy Montana
Born:  October 30, 1914
Died:  May 3, 1996
Academy of Country Music Pioneer (1970)
Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame (1996)
Country Music Hall of Fame (1996)
Western Music Association Hall of Fame (1989)
KWKH Louisiana Hayride
WLS National Barn Dance
WCFL Chicago, IL


About The Artist

Patsy Montana was a popular singing artist with the Prairie Ramblers on WLS and the National Barn Dance back in the late 30's and 40's. One of her most memorable recordings was her song, "I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart".

Patsy Montana was a native of Hope, Arkansas. Does that town sound familiar to you? Think of a recent U.S. President. She was a versatile entertainer. She could sing, play the violin and guitar. She was also a prolific song writer. Her trademark song became, "I Want To Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart".

She got her start by winning an amateur radio contest at a theatre in Los Angeles, California. That led to a job with a local radio station in Hollywood, KMTR. At that time, she was using her real name, Ruby Blevins. She then joined a group of girl singers who called themselves the Montana Cowgirls. That group stayed together a few years. They appeared at such places as the Pendleton, Oregon Roundup, several Hoot Gibson rodeos, a movie called "Lightning Express" and also appeared on KFI with Al Pearce and His Gang.

In 1933, she visited the "Century of Progress" exposition in Chicago, Illinois with her brothers. While there, Patsy auditioned with WLS and got their immediate attention and joined the Prairie Ramblers group. But by 1944, she was no longer with the group, but was doing free lance work while tending to her family.

She appeared often on WLS and the National Barn Dance with the group, the Prairie Ramblers. Her popularity led to her also doing a number of movies with Republic.

At one time she had a ranch in Arkansas, "The Box R" as well as a home in Oak Park, Illinois when she was appearing on the National Barn Dance in Chicago.

This is just the beginning of what we've found about Patsy. Stay tuned as we add to this legendary artist's story as time goes by.

Timeline and Trivia Notes

  • Patsy's real name was Ruby Blevens
  • Married Paul Rose in 1934 (he was the secretary to Mac and Bob, another famous WLS duo) and had two daughters, Beverly and Judy.

Credits & Sources

  • Country Song Roundup No. 3; December 1949; Charlton Publishing Corp.; Derby, CT.
  • The Billboard Music Year Book 1944; Billboard Publishing Company, Inc.
  • Photos from 1983 courtesy of Dick Hill, Country & Western Music Historian.

Sound Sample—(YouTube Video Format)


I'm Goin' West To Texas

Appearance History This Month

March 3, 1936
WLS On Parade
Highland Theatre
Chicago, IL
Patsy Montana

March 5, 1936
WLS On Parade
Stratford Theatre
Chicago, IL
Patsy Montana

March 6, 1936
WLS National Barn Dance
Le Moyne School
Chicago, IL
Patsy Montana

March 4, 1937
WLS National Barn Dance
American Theatre
Chicago, IL
Patsy Montana

March 5, 1937
WLS On Parade
Fenger High School Auditorium
Chicago, IL
Patsy Montana

Get The Music

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)

 
Bluebird
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  5404 A Montana Plains (aka Patsy Montana)
  5404 B Waltz Of The Hill (aka Patsy Montana)
 
Cavalier
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  837 A The Yodeling Ghost (w/Jack Wayne Bar 10 Boys)
  837 B What Does It Matter (If I Can't Share It With You) (w/Jack Wayne Bar 10 Boys)
  838 A Water Witch Waltz (w/Jack Wayne Bar 10 Boys)
  838 B Fuel On The Flame (w/Jack Wayne Bar 10 Boys)
 
Columbia
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  20201 A I Wanna Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart
  20201 B Ridin' Old Paint
  37602 A Ridin' Old Paint
  37602 B I Wanna' Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart
 
Conqueror
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  8575 A I Wanna Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart
  8575 B Ridin' Old Paint
  8630 A The She Buckaroo
  8630 B Sweetheart Of The Saddle
  8654 A Give Me A Home In Montana
  8654 B Wheel Of Wagon Is Broken
  8709 A Gold Coast Express
  8709 B Woman's Answer To Nobody's Darling
  8744 A I'm An Old Cowhand
  8744 B Echoes From The Hills
  8827 A Chuck Wagon Blues
  8827 B Goin' Back To Old Montana
  8853 A I've Found My Cowboy Sweetheart
  8853 B A Cowboy Honeymoon
  8887 A There's a Ranch In The Sky
  8887 B Ridin' The Sunset Trail
  8893 A I Only Want A Buddy Not a Sweetheart
  8893 B Pride Of The Prairie
  8979 A Little Rose Of The Prairie
  8979 B My Dear Old Arizona Home
  8980 A Out On The Lone Prairie
  8980 B Someone To Go Home To
  8981 A Little Sweetheart Of The Ozarks
  8981 B Shine On, Rocky Mountain Moonlight
  9003 A Rodeo Sweetheart
  9003 B Waltz Of The Hills
 
Decca
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  5947 A I'll Be Waiting For You (w/Her Pardners)
  5947 B Shy Ann From Cheyenne (w/Her Pardners)
  5956 A I'll Keep Wishing For You (w/Her Pardners)
  5956 B I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart (w/Her Pardners)
  5972 A Sunny San Antone (w/Her Pardners)
  5972 B I'm Gonna Have A Cowboy's Wedding (w/Her Pardners)
  6024 A Gallopin To Gallup
  6024 B Blanket Me With Western Skies
  6032 A Deep In The Heart Of Texas
  6032 B I'll Wait For You
  6101 A Smile And Drive Your Blues Away (w/Her Pardners)
  6101 B Good Night Soldier (w/Her Pardners)
 
Montgomery Ward
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  4322 A When The Flowers Of Montana Were Blooming
  4322 B I Love My Daddy Too
  4484 A Montana Plains (Vp.Montana)
  4484 B Waltz Of The Hill (Vpm)
 
OKeh
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  03010 A I Wanna Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart
  03010 B Ridin' Old Paint
 
Presta
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  1007 A Goodnight Soldier
  1007 B Steppin' Out
 
RCA Victor
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  20-2686 A If I Could Only Learn To Yodel
  20-2686 B Slap 'Er Down Again, Paw
  20-2899 A Mama Never Said A Word About Love (w/Her Buckaroos)
  20-2899 B Little Old Rag Doll (w/Her Buckaroos)
 
Vocalion
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  05081 B I'm Goin West To Texas
  05426 A Leanin' On The Ole Top Rail


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