The Other Woman – 87 Year Old Woman releases Country Music CD

(DailyMusicRoll Editorial):- Bellingham, Washington Sep 13, 2023 (Issuewire.com) – In the late 50’s, women barely had a voice in our country, rarely were they found fronting their own country bands in clubs. Whatcom County has proudly claimed the beginning days of the Queen of Country music, Loretta Lynn. Depicted in her famous movie: Coal Miner’s Daughter, the beginning of moving from Kentucky to Washington where her husband was from, and the first years playing in bars in the county. Eventually moving to Nashville and becoming a legend with a 60
year music career.

In 2017, millions saw a photo documenting Loretta’s time in Washington State in a Ken Burns PBS special of Country music history.  In the photo, were Loretta, a man and another young woman. Duke Saulsbury was the other woman’s steel guitar player as well as the two ladies’ booking agent. The other woman was Darlene Little. Native to Whatcom County.  A photo captured in between clubs and sets of the only two country women singers in the Northwest at that time.  After Loretta received national airplay of Honky Tonk Girl she began to tour with Johnny Cash and “North To Alaska’s Johnny Horton. Darlene filled in for her several times along with her own gigs.

With an equal talent for singing and songwriting, rather than following her friend Loretta to Nashville, to build a music career, the other woman chose a different path. Darlene wished her dear friend all the success, and stayed in contact over the years while remaining in her county making a clear choice to raise a family and on a farm.

Darlene was a prolific songwriter. Direct writing style like Loretta. Speaking out against alcoholism,  devastating floods, farm and family, the comedies of life, relationship strife and more. All the material of a great country hit. But instead of pursing publishers and labels, the songs were kitchen table recorded on a tape over 50 years ago, then mailed back to herself as the poor-man copyright method, and there, they sat. The following 60 years, Darlene and her husband Jack performed periodically and their home was often filled with wayward musicians and folks needing a place to stay, grandkids and home cooking straight from the garden.

Only a few months after losing her eldest son, Darlene had her first stroke. Already challenged with crippling Osteoarthritis, nearly dying of sepsis, and exhausted from caring for her late husband who was taken by Alzheimers, Darlene lived with her daughter on and off over 5 years. In searching for some family photos to cheer up her mom, daughter, Laurie Lee Lewis, (also a singer-songwriter), came across a package. Inside, over 20 songs her mother had written. Astounded at the treasure time capsule, she asked her mom if she would allow her to make a CD and at last, release to the world: THE OTHER WOMAN who chose a different path, and tell the story from 63 years ago. Darlene’s humble concern was that a simple guitar/vocal demo – recorded in between diapers and dinners probably wasn’t good enough for today’s market. 

The idea came and went for a year. Following a second stroke on Feb. 2023, leaving her legs immobile, Darlene Little or Peachy, (as she is called) now resides at a nursing facilty in Bellingham, WA. Still a beam of light. Still wears her little flower in her hair and loves the staff. With mounting bills and concern of losing the family farm, Darlene’s daughter once again asked about releasing her songs, alas Darlene agreed that the story of beginning song writing and women in country music might be worth it.  A CD was put together with the help of a friend, carefully extracting the songs from the fragile tape. Darlene, who turned 87 in August was handed a beautiful 21 song CD with her photos of history and the story of THE OTHER WOMAN.

“I am so grateful to still be alive to enjoy this part and share about women and country music. And hope sales will help with the expenses. I still can’t believe I am on a real CD just like my daughter and Loretta!  Its been hard to sign autographs with my hand from the stroke, but it is fun too and good exercise!” Says Darlene. 

While normally connotations of the woman have described lying, cheating
infidelity, but this is one time it actually is about positive life choices and history.
Darlene’s 21 all original song CD is now available with limited time autographed copies and/or digital downloads at: www.hearttoheartfarm.company.site

A YouTube music video by Darlene’s daughter Laurie telling this story premieres Friday Sept. 15th. at this link:

Contact email:  [email protected]

This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.