RIP Porter Wagoner

[NellyLunatic1980]

Country music legend who launched Dolly Parton's career 40 years ago.

Passed away at age 80, less than a week after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

[geoffil]

I was friends with his daughter, Denise, when I lived in Nashville. She never said who her dad was until I went to a sleepover at her house. She said she didn't want to tell people who her dad was because she didn't want friends who only liked her because of her dad. We were on the same swim team and her mom never bragged about Porter. The whole family was really down to earth.

[nitrah55]

Porter Wagoner was a top flight muscian and producer, but I have this unfortuate image of him that I can't shake because of a story from George Jones' autobiography that Don Imus used to tell (and probably will again, when he gets back on the air).

At one point some years ago, Porter was making a play for some woman George was involved with- at least George thought so. George entered a men's room and, lo and behold, there's Porter- in one of his elaborate outfits- taking a pee.

George reaches around Porter, grabs hold of his business, and with a few stern words and a firm grip, elicits from Porter a promise to mend his ways.

I cannot get this picture out of my head. I'm sure you understand.

[earendel]

I cannot get this picture out of my head. I'm sure you understand.

And now none of the rest of us will, either.

[Appa23]

Country music legend who launched Dolly Parton's career 40 years ago.

Hence, she wrote "I Will Always Love You", about the ending of their business relationship. Dolly sang the song when she left his show in the early 1970s.