"BABY" Wilma Burgess, the Lesbian Patsy Cline

What? "The Lesbian Patsy Cline?" Well, yes. She wasn't billed that way back in the 60's, but if it helps get this underrated singer a bit more attention these days, why not? Fact is, Wilma (1939-2003) was considered by Owen Bradley to have just the kind of tearful, big voice that Patsy had. Owen had produced Cline, and now set about finding a breakout song for Wilma. After 3 failed singles, "BABY" did the job in 1965, hitting the Top 10. That song (written by Ray Griff) was followed by three more dramatic best-sellers, "Don't Touch Me," "Misty Blue." and "Tear Time." Burgess had known Cline, and after Patsy's passing, bought her home. Decca had lost Patsy Cline, but seemed to have a winner in Wilma. But...Decca lost Wilma in 1971. She signed with Jim Reeves' Shannon label, but the hits didn't happen. Things cooled considerably for her, and eventually she figured it would be helpful to have a day job. Or, a night one? She opened a "women only" bar called "Hitching Post." Without hit singles, nobody cared much what her sexual preference was, but it was not exactly a secret. Wilma's last album was for Columbia in 1982. A bit on the heavy side, she died of a heart attack at the age of 64.