Crystal Gayle- The blue eyed Country sensation

BEFORE country was 'cool,' Crystal was 'class'. Although the name Crystal came to her in quite an unusual fashion, Brenda Gayle Webb was suggested by her older sister, Loretta Lynn, to adopt the name 'Crystal' when she began recording.

Crystal encapsulates everything the dazzling qualities of her name imply. Born in Paintsville, Kentucky, USA, on January 9, 1951, the youngest daughter of Melvin "Ted" and Clara Marie, Crystal was Inspired by Lynn's success, and learned guitar, performed folk songs in high school and sang backing vocals in her brother's band.

In the beginning country, folk, pop, rock n roll, Broadway show tunes, gospel…all found equal place in her heart, growing up as the youngest of eight children. Like sister Loretta Crystal too was a “coal miners daughter” before she was a platinum selling singer and a world class entertainer.

“Brown Eyes” opened the world's eyes to Crystal Gayle. She became a household name in homes, grand and small, from Louisville to Leningrad.

The glamour and the mystique of the Crystal Gayle phenomena made her an instantly “ in demand” artist. From symphony halls to Carnegie Hall…from the best-kept stages in Las Vegas to the prestige of the London Palladium... one word“Crystal”crossed musical genres and oceans.

Crystal globe hopped, and was seen in all the best camera lenses. Her CBS prime time special was followed by an equally groundbreaking HBO concert special viewed by millions. She appeared in Bob Hope's historic NBC-TV Special, “On The Road To China.” She was seen hosting the “American Music Awards,” the “Academy Of Country Music Awards,” and her third network special, “A Crystal Christmas From Sweden.” She swept through toursand repeat toursof the U.S., Japan, England, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Holland, Australia and the Far East.

In the wake…her hit list of platinum and gold record sales was to be matched only by her awards and accolades. CMA's “Female Vocalist Of The Year,” for two consecutive years, she became a Grammy Award Winner for “Best Female Vocal Performance,” thanks to her beloved “Brown Eyes” a song that she today admits she has never grown tired of singing. Crystal swept the Academy Of Country Music Awards for three of their “Top Female Vocalist” statuettes. As her music and her career path widened to mainstream audiencesso did her accolades. She is the recipient of three “American Music Awards” voted by the nation as America's “Favorite Female Artist.”

Her inspirational album, “Someday,” was nominated for a Grammy. With the advent of the new millennium, Crystal recorded “In My Arms,” an enduring collection of children's lullabies, the project was an outgrowth of her love for the littlest of listeners, and of her visit to “Sesame Street” to sing with Big Bird to a new generation of music lovers.

Always gracious and generous with her time and talents, Crystal has been awarded the coveted “Celebration of Light Award” in recognition of her myriad humanitarian effortsamong them the Make-A-Wish Foundation (for whom she has recorded the official theme song) and the Arthritis Foundation, for whom she has served as telethon co-host for several years. Fittingly, the “Celebration of Light Award” was a presentation in Waterford Crystal.

One of the most fitting honors in her career came in 1999 when “Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” was recognized by ASCAP as one being one of the ten most performed songs of the 20th century. Gayle released two more studio albums during the 1990s: Ain't Gonna Worry (1990) produced by Allen Reynolds and Three Good Reasons (1992). Both albums failed to chart and their singles all failed to reestablish Gayle at country radio. Gayle subsequently recorded several specialty projects. She released two gospel albums - Someday (1995) and He Is Beautiful (1997). In 1999, she released the tribute album, Crystal Gayle Sings The Heart And Soul Of Hoagy Carmichael.

Gayle released a children's album, In My Arms, in 2000. Her most recent studio album was the 2003 standards collection, All My Tomorrows. Gayle has since released two live albums, Crystal Gayle In Concert (2005) and Live! An Evening With Crystal Gayle (2007).

At home in Nashville when not touring, Crystal continues to make the world a little more beautiful just by her presence. Her upscale boutique, “Crystal's” is one of the cities premiere destinations for the most beautiful gifts and finest jewelry. Her two children daughter Catherine and son Chrisand her husband-- Bill Gatzimos are her admitted heartbeat. Gayle is known to be the female artist with the longest hair in the world.

Her website says she grew her hair to such incredible lengths because she had to have it boyishly short as a child. She has had at least "classic length" hair all through adulthood, but now keeps her hair to three inches off the floor.