Singer Patti Page is dead at age 85

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Patti Page, whose "Tennessee Waltz" is one of the best-selling recordings ever, has died. She was 85.

• Patti Page remembered by George Jones, Charlie Daniels

Page died on New Year's Day in Encinitas, Calif., her rep said in a statement sent to CBSNews.com

23 Photos

Patti Page: 1927-2013

Page, who was to be honored by the Recording Academy in a pre-Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony on Feb. 9, was one of the top-selling female singers in history with more than 100 million record sales. She created a distinctive sound for the music industry in 1947 by overdubbing her own voice when she didn't have enough money to hire backup singers for the single, "Confess."

She had 24 records in the top 10, including four that reached No. 1. She was also the first singer to have television programs on all three major networks, including "The Patti Page Show" on ABC.

Page had a staggering 111 chart hits, including pop classics like "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window," and "Old Cape Cod." According to her rep, she recorded 50 albums, with 19 gold and 14 platinum singles. She earned a Grammy for her CD "Patti Page Live at Carnegie Hall--the 50th Anniversary Concert."

Page was awarded the Living Legend Award from the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and the Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music. She has stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Country Music Walk of Fame.

Page is survived by her son, Daniel O'Curran; daughter, Kathleen Ginnp; and sister, Peggy Layton. No funeral arrangements have been announced.

[TillMidnight]

God bless her and Godspeed.

[Goldwater64s6]

Thanks for the memories, Patti. You are truly an American icon.

[JV1970]

What many people don't know about Patti Page is that she arose from poverty in Oklahoma. She was born near Claremore, OK in 1927. I believe she was one of eleven children. Her voice was her God given ticket out of poverty.

[JV1970]

This is a terrible loss to all of us! Unlike many of today's female singers like Lady Gaga and many others who prance around on stage half naked or in outrageous costumes doing filthy dances, Patti Page was a lady in every sense of the word.

She was a beautiful, gorgeous lady who knew how to act like a lady. She didn't need to perform half naked to be noticed or to sell records. Her talent, her ladylikeness, her beauty, and her georgeous voice did it for her!

She had a voice that the likes of such comes along only once in a lifetime. When she started to sing everyone listened!

Some of my earliest memories involve her songs. "The Tennessee Waltz" and "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" were the two songs that my mother used to sing to me before I went to sleep when I was a baby.

I was also sick a lot when I was child and my mother rocked me and walked the floor holding me all night long many nights singing those two songs.

Patti Page will be greatly missed!

[NorineS]

We have lost a great lady. There will never be another Singer like her. She had one of a kind voice. And so gracious. I saw her in Washington, D.C. many years ago when my husband and I went for our anniversary she was very kind to us and gave us a picture and signed it.I am so glad I went to see her here in Calif. a couple of years ago she still had that great voice. Patti you will be missed.

[MrLiterally]

Was hoping for a comeback tour.

[mari1963]

A true gem in music. Patti, you will be missed. They'll never be another like her.

[JohnnySmythe12]

Wow. She will be missed. I grew up loving "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window" and sing it to my dogs to this day. 100,000,000 albums and 67 years in the biz, what a great body of music: http://www.fuhshnizzle.com/pedia/artists/Patti-Page.html

[hozzy911]

RIP PATTI PAGE MAY YOUR LEGACY LEAVE FORVER. ALL I CAN DO IS LOOK AT YOUR PICTURES AND REMEMBER YOUR MEMORY. WE ALL LOVE YOU. VIEW PATTIS PICTURES HERE FROM WHEN SHE STARTED TILL NOW http://deucesreloaded.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/photos-of-patti-page.html

[MIO42]

Rip
People like her don't exist anymore
The Simple life and love and respect for family were her hallmarks
She didn't have to exploit others to endear herself
God Bless Her