When the Country Music Association announced Tuesday Dottie West has been chosen for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year, it was music to the ears of Dottie’s family, friends, and fans from far and near.

“The whole West family is full of emotion,” said Dottie’s daughter, Shelly West. “When I got the news that Dottie was being inducted, I don’t remember if I was laughing or crying louder! My heart just swelled as I knew that Mom’s fans would soon hear this sweet news. Although she sings in the angel’s band these years, she has needed her resting home on earth. She will have that home here at the Country Music Hall of Fame, sharing her love with all.”

Dottie’s sister, Diane Poss echoed those sentiments Tuesday.“The family is very happy and pleased with this decision,” she said.

Dottie was a mentor to many in country music, including Larry Gatlin and Steve Wariner. In a recent interview with Southern Standard editor James Clark, Wariner said, “I was a senior in high school and playing on the west side of Indianapolis  when Dottie heard me singing and playing. She offered me a job that night.” Elsewhere he said, “I will never forget my first time at the Grand Ole Opry with the great Dottie West.”

In my view, Dottie West is a bright shining example  of a country music artist who rose from the pit of poverty to the pinnacle of success. She was born Dorothy Marie Marsh on a farm near McMinnville on Oct. 11, 1932. The details of her rise from rural obscurity to national and international fame have been widely covered recently through this newspaper and other multimedia outlets.

  For me, “The Ballad of Dottie and Dorothy Marie,” is a fitting tribute to our “Miss Country Sunshine.” As singers and songwriters say, it goes like this:

V.1. She was born in the country Dorothy Marie/On a farm near McMinnville in Tennessee.
In a house full of children, the oldest of 10/she helped raise the family through thick and through thin.
V.2. With a heart full of music she started her climb/She moved up the ladder a dream at a time.
Though it never was easy ,she never did stop/Paying her dues on her way to the top.
                          CHORUS
She sang about sunshine, she sang about rain/ She knew life’s pleasures, she knew love’s pain.
She sang her emotions right from the start/With the voice of an Angel, she captured our hearts.
V.3. On her way to the Opry to sing for her fans/Dottie crossed over, now she’s  in God’s hands.
They sang Dottie’s praises for days on TV/ And we all said farewell to Dorothy Marie.

REPEAT CHORUS

TAG: We miss you Dottie and Dorothy Marie.

Written by Bob Fults and Thomas B.Vaughn

One more thing. Dottie West’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is reason enough to resurrect the Dottie West Music Fest, by a new generation of local leaders.

Retired Army Col. Thomas B. Vaughn can be reached at tbvbwmi@blomand.net.