Dolly Parton has had a very long career in music. She recorded her first single at the age of 13, in 1957, with Puppy Love and moved to Nashville from her home in Sevier County, TN the day after she graduated high school in 1964.
Dolly initially signed with Combine Publishing as a songwriter, writing the top ten hits Put It Off Until Tomorrow by Bill Phillips and Fuel to the Flame by Skeeter Davis.
Signed to Monument Records, the label originally tried to make her into a pop star but finally relented and let her go country with her first hit single, Dumb Blonde (1967 / #24 Country). On February 13, 1967, they released Parton’s debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, which contained that song along with the follow-up, Something Fishy (1967 / #17 Country).
The album did amazingly well for an unknown, peaking at number 11 on the Country Albums chart. It was the only album that she would record for Monument, moving to RCA for her 1968 follow-up Just Because I’m a Woman.
Dolly wrote today:
I can’t believe it’s been 50 years since I did my first album. What a wonderful 50 years it has been. Thanks to my Uncle Bill Owens and Fred Foster for believing in me early on. And thanks to all the fans out there…I hope to have at least another 50 years!
Here is Dolly, from the January 31, 1967 edition of the Bobby Lord Show, singing Dumb Blonde.
The top ten country singles on February 13, 1967:
1. Where Does the Good Times Go – Buck Owens
2. Don’t Come Home A’Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind) – Loretta Lynn
3. The Fugitive – Merle Haggard
4. There Goes My Everything – Jack Greene
5. Once – Ferlin Husky
6. A Loser’s Cathedral – David Houston
7. Happy Tracks – Kenny Price
8. Hurt Her Once For Me – Wilburn Brothers
9. I Never Had the One I Wanted – Claude Gray
10. Just Between You and Me – Charley Pride
