Dolly Parton

Patriotic Assembly Song of the Week:

"The Star Spangled Banner"

Francis Scott Key

FEATURED MUSICIAN OF THE WEEK:

DOLLY PARTON
1946 - USA

MONDAY

Music Listening Example: "Love is Like a Butterfly"

Dolly Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actress, author, businesswoman, and humanitarian who is known mostly for her work in country music. Her songs have captured the hearts of generations, and her big smile has brightened the lives of millions.

Dolly has a fun and vibrant personality that is evident in most of her songs and movies. Parton’s musical style and light, soprano voice is recognized around the world. She is also known for her flashy costumes and the many different styles of wigs that she wears.

Parton has composed over 3,000 songs, including "9 to 5"; “Jolene”, “Coat of Many Colors”, “Islands in the Stream”; “My Tennessee Mountain Home”; "Here You Come Again", and "I Will Always Love You", also made popular by the late Whitney Houston.

Today’s listening example is one of Dolly’s first hits. It also explains why you see butterflies all around her, and in the logo of her theme parks. “Love is like a butterfly” was published in 1974. Dolly has always loved butterflies. In fact, she has said, ““Butterflies are my symbol. As a child, I used to get lost chasing them and got my butt whipped for wandering too far off. So we have butterflies everywhere.” It’s no surprise butterflies brought her such good luck with this hit song.

TUESDAY

Music Listening Example: "My Tennessee Mountain Home"

Country music icon and actress Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. She was born the fourth child of 12 brothers and sisters.

Parton and Sylvester Stallone in Rhinestone

Parton and Queen Latifah in Joyful Noise

Parton and Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias

Today's listening example was recorded in 1972 and is from a deeply personal album sharing the trials and triumphs Parton had growing up. Unlike most of her country-pop style songs, this one is more bluegrass style, which reflects the culture in which she was raised.

MUSIC LISTENING LINK

Youtube video - "My Tennessee Mountain Home" sung by Parton with still photos. (3:00 min.)
Youtube video - "Backwoods Barbie" sung by Parton with related scenes. (3:30 min.)
Youtube video - "Backwoods Barbie" sung by Parton with lyrics. (3:15 min.)

WEDNESDAY

Music Listening Example: "I Will Always Love You"

Lessons Objective: Identify a personal experience that could form the basis of a song.
AR Frameworks 10.1.1.

Carl Dean and Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton married Carl Dean in 1966. She does not use his last name professionally, but she sometimes uses his name when signing contracts. Dean is a simple, every-day kind of guy who runs an asphalt road-paving business in Nashville, where they live. He is a very private person and rarely accompanies his wife to publicity events or concerts. According to Parton, he has only seen her perform on stage once.

The Parton/Dean home in Nashville, Tennessee

Parton and Dean do not have any children of their own, but the couple helped raise several of Dolly’s younger siblings. They refer to her as “Aunt Granny”. (I wonder if Carl is called “Uncle Grandpa”?)
In May 2016, Parton and Dean will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Parton has said, “We’re really proud of our marriage. It’s the first for both of us, and the last.” In today’s world of super-stars, where there is a lot of personal pressure and demand upon their time, staying married that long is a great accomplishment.

Parton and husband, Carl Dean

WHAT INSPIRES A PERSON TO BE CREATIVE?
Monday we learned that Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs. Have you ever wondered what inspires a person to write a song? The best songs, stories, films and art result as an expression of personal experiences in life. Parton has written many songs about the experiences in her life and career. Today's listening example, called "I Will Always Love You", came not from her marriage, but from an important crossroad in her career. Parton wrote the song one night after telling her partner and mentor, Porter Wagoner, that she felt it was time for her to separate professionally from their partnership. It was Dolly's decision to start out on her own that inspired her to write this beautiful song that expressed her feelings about the person who had helped her so much in her early career.

MUSIC LISTENING LINK

Youtube video - "I Will Always Love You" sung by Parton (3:30 min.)
Youtube video - "I Will Always Love You" sung by Whitney Houston (4:30 min.)

THURSDAY

Music Listening Example: "Islands in the Stream"

Lesson Objective: Identify career opportunities in music fields.
AR Frameworks CN. 11.5.3.

Dolly Parton has a large business empire. When her song, “I Will Always Love You” went to No. 1 on the country charts, Elvis Presley said that he wanted to record the song. Parton was interested until Elvis’s business manager told her she would have to sign over half the publishing rights to any song recorded by Elvis. Parton refused, and that decision helped to make her millions of dollars in royalties from the song, especially when it was later recorded by the late Whitney Houston. When making decisions, it is important to look at all the consequences that might result from your decision.

In 1986, Dolly helped to redevelop a Tennessee theme park which was known as Silver Dollar City. She envisioned a place where the culture and people of the Smoky Mountains would be celebrated. Parton knew the park would provide many good things for the people she cared about, such as more available jobs. At the time, she was working in California and kept seeing the name, “Hollywood”. That inspired her to name the new theme park, “Dollywood”. The park is the largest provider of jobs in Sevier county where she grew up. It is Parton's way of sharing her success
with others and giving back to her community.

Today's listening example is a song written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, a group that was popular during the 1970’s and ‘80’s. The song title comes from a novel written by author Ernest Hemingway. Parton and Kenny Rogers released the recording in 1983 and it was a big hit.

Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Barry Gibb

MUSIC LISTENING LINKS

Ytube video - "Islands in the Stream" performed live by Parton and Kenny Rogers (4:00 min.)
Youtube video - "Islands in the Stream" with lyrics (4:10 min.)

FRIDAY

Music Listening Example: "Coat of Many Colors"

Lesson Objectives: Identify complex connections among music, other fine arts, and disciplines outside the arts. Identify career opportunities in music fields.
AR Frameworks 11.5.1., 11.5.3., 11.6.1., 11.6.3.

Dixie Stampede Show

As a child, Dolly and her siblings dreamed of owning a pony on their farm. This memory inspired her to put her creative team to work to develop an equestrian-themed entertainment experience for crowds of all ages. The result was the Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction, a lively, wild west dinner show with rodeo events, trick riding and audience participation. The 1988 opening in Pigeon
Forge, TN was an instant hit. The show starred 32 magnificent horses, and crowds whooped, hollered and feasted on a hearty meal inspired by good old-fashioned country cooking and hospitality. Families fell in love with Dixie Stampede and continue to make it an annual tradition.

Parton still goes on world tours to promote her albums. Her songs have been featured on American
Idol, where she served as a mentor to the contestants. Parton established the Imagination Library, a non-profit organization that partners with communities around the world to promote reading by sending pre-school children a free book each month. But despite everything Dolly Parton has achieved, she remains humble and
grounded in her faith and family. No dream was ever too big for the little country girl who turned the world into her stage.

On tour in Australia

With Kellie Pickler and Carrie Underwood on American Idol

Dolly Parton's tour bus - her "home away from home"

THE STORY ABOUT TODAY'S LISTENING EXAMPLE:
As a child, Dolly Parton faced some of the same problems kids face today. She was a victim of bullying. She was poor and wore homemade clothes, and she was teased about it. One time, her mom sewed her a patchwork coat made from scraps of colorful fabric. Parton said she was innocent and naïve when she wore her coat to school, and she was hurt when the children teased her for wearing it. Parton learned a hard lesson, which she later used in her song, "Coat of Many Colors".

Today's song is about the things that are really important in life. It tells the story of a child's feelings of pride for what they have, even though others may try to make them feel less important. Dolly Parton knew what it meant to appreciate the things we have in life. She remains humble and grateful even after her transformation "from rags to riches".

MUSIC LISTENING LINKS