Dolly Parton Memorial Begins at Historic Lake Charles Site
Lake Charles, LA [KNGT-FM] - I’m not crying. You’re crying.
A touching tribute to Dolly Parton has begun in Lake Charles at the former site of Goldband Records, a place that holds a special chapter in the legendary singer’s story.
Parton died Tuesday at age 80, leaving behind a career that made her a country music icon and a beloved figure around the world.
But for Southwest Louisiana, Dolly’s story has an especially personal connection.
Read More: Every Dolly Parton Show Played In Louisiana
In 1959, when she was just 13 years old, Parton traveled roughly 30 hours by bus to Lake Charles to record “Puppy Love,” her first song, at Goldband Studios. At the time, the studio was located near the corner of North Ryan Street and Church Street.
After recently sharing Parton’s Lake Charles connection, I decided to visit the location and record a video showing where Goldband Records once stood. What I found there stopped me in my tracks.
Read More: The Story Behind Dolly Parton's Connection To Lake Charles [VIDEO]
Interesting Facts About Goldband Records In Lake Charles
- Goldband Records was founded in 1945
- A 13-year-old Dolly Parton recorded there
- Boozoo Chavis recorded at Goldband
- Phil Phillips' song “Sea of Love” put Lake Charles on the national music map
- The Goldband complex was more than a recording studio. It also included a record store and television-related business.
A makeshift memorial had already begun beside the historical plaque marking the former location of Goldband. People had left flowers and other tributes to honor a woman many of us never had the opportunity to meet.
Yet somehow, Dolly felt like one of us. I shot a video while I was out there and wanted to share it with you.
Her connection to Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana became part of our community’s history nearly seven decades ago. Now, residents are returning that love, remembering a young girl who came here chasing a dream and eventually became one of the world's most recognizable stars.
It's a simple memorial, but it says so much.
View the Gravesites of Famous Country Music Artists
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