Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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GAYLE, Crystal

(b Brenda Gayle Webb, 9 Jan. '51, Paintsville KY) Country-pop crossover singer, younger sister of Loretta Lynn. Family moved to Indiana '55; she listened to both country and pop; joined sister's road show '70, recorded for Decca '70--72 with minor hits 'I've Cried (The Blue Right Out Of My Eyes)' and 'I Hope You're Havin' Better Luck Than Me'. Signed with United Artists '74; under guidance of prod. Allen Reynolds soon hit charts with 'Wrong Road Again' '74, 'Somebody Loves You' '75, 'I'll Get Over You' (first crossover to pop Hot 100) and 'You Never Miss A Real Good Thing' '76, 'I'll Do It All Over Again' and 'Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue' (pop no. 2) '77. Named ACM's Female Vocalist of the Year '76, '77, '79, CMA's '77--8; won Grammy for 'Brown Eyes'. Albums reflected pop success, incl. such songs as 'It's Alright With Me', 'Cry Me A River', 'Ready For The Times To Get Better', 'Why Have You Left The One You Left Me For', 'Talking In Your Sleep' all country no. 1 hits '78; 'Sleep' made pop top 20. Switched to Columbia '79, now country music's highest-paid female star; 'Half The Way' was pop no. 18 '79. Switched to Elektra/Warners '82, duet country hit with Eddie Rabbitt 'You And I' '82; with nine Hot 100 entries '76--81, too many country hits to list here. We Must Believe In Magic and When I Dream '77--8 on UA were two of her most successful albums, now on Razor and Tie in the USA; What If We Fall In Love '89 on WB was a makeout LP of duets with Gary Morris, who co-wrote 'Making Up For Lost Time' with Dave Loggins. By the end of the '80s the hits were drying up. She moved to Capitol, then Liberty, reunited with Reynolds; albums incl. well-reviewed Ain't Gonna Worry '90; she resurfaced on Branson Entertainment. Owns a gifts and jewellery business in Nashville specializing in Waterford and Swedish crystal.