Cristy Lane

Cristy Lane is an American Christian and country music singer. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she had a series of hits on the North American country charts with songs like "Let Me Down Easy", "I Just Can't Stay Married to You" and the number one hit "One Day at a Time". The latter recording inspired a book of the same name, which was sold on cable television and brought renewed interest to Lane's career.

Lane was raised in Peoria, Illinois, and married Lee Stoller at age 19. She raised three children while Stoller worked a sales job in the Peoria area. One day, Stoller overheard his wife singing at home and got the idea that she could become a successful country music vocalist. Stoller soon became her full-time manager and by 1966 she released her first single on a small independent record label. Lane recorded for a series of small labels during the decade with no success. In 1969, Lane and Stoller traveled the far east where she performed over 100 shows for American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War. Traumatized by the experience, Lane considered ending her career but ultimately decided to continue.

The family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in the early 1970s to restart Lane's country singing career. Facing rejection from every major record company, Stoller decided to form his own label, which he named LS Records. The company began releasing Cristy Lane singles in the mid 1970s. In 1977, she had her first major hit with "Let Me Down Easy". It was followed by a series of top ten hits over the next several years. In 1979, Lane signed with United Artists Records, where she would record "One Day at a Time". The single would become her biggest hit in her career and prompted Lane to record a series of albums tailored to the Christian market in the 1980s. This included LPs such as One Day at a Time (1981) and Footprints in the Sand (1983).

In 1982, Stoller went to prison on federal bribery charges. The criminal conviction halted Lane's career, but when he was released, he published her biography also titled One Day at a Time (1983). Marketing the book on cable television in combination with her record albums, One Day at a Time sold over a million copies. Over the next several decades, Lane's biography and recordings were sold over television commercials, the worldwide web and through other major distributors. In the 1990s, the couple opened a theater in Branson, Missouri, which ran shows for several years.

Early life Lane was born Eleanor Johnston in Peoria, Illinois, to Andrew and Pansy Johnston, one of 12 children. Ellie was often bullied in school for her lisp and her small stature. She eventually graduated from East Peoria High School in the late 1950s. Stoller paid one thousand dollars to manufacture her record and he promoted 500 single records by himself.

Lane's early material was described by music writer Greg Adams as a style that "pointed towards the country-pop sound with which she would eventually find success. Stoller billed her as "the female Jim Reeves" and the "Sweetest Voice This Side of Heaven". Despite his early efforts, Lane's country career did not yield any commercial success.

Lane became increasingly unhappy following her return home from Vietnam. She continued regularly performing at "The Flame", but found her schedule too busy and unfulfilling. She was also reliving the experiences of watching warfare day after day. In 1970, Lane overdosed on Valium medication. Following the experience Lane considered the idea of giving up a career in music. However, after contemplating it for several days, she reconsidered. "I’m not going to let every little thing build up inside me. I’ve got to quit carrying everyone else’s problems—especially my own family’s—around on my shoulders. I want to go back to singing," she said. In 1972, the Stollers moved to Nashville, Tennessee in a second attempt to launch Lane's country music career. Her next two singles were Lane's first to make the American country charts: "Tryin' to Forget About You" and "Sweet Deceiver". The song was produced by Charlie Black, a Nashville songwriter, who had also been working as an independent producer. For the song's promotion, LS Records made an arrangement for the GRT label to distribute the product. "Let Me Down Easy" became Lane's first major country hit, climbing to number seven on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Lane's commercial success continued with her next three single releases. Between 1977 and 1978 she had top ten hits with "I'm Gonna Love You Anyway" and "Penny Arcade". A cover of Marion Worth's "Shake Me I Rattle", also reached the country top 20 on Billboard. and was reviewed favorably by Billboard magazine, who named it among its "Top Album Picks".

In November 1978, the Charlie Black-penned "I Just Can't Stay Married to You" was issued as a single and reached the top five of the Billboard country chart. Her third studio LP, Love Lies, was issued on LS in December 1978. With her growing popularity, Lane's recordings were receiving attention from music critics and journalists. Greg Adams of AllMusic described her voice as "light", "pretty" and "distinctive". He also rated Love Lies four stars in his AllMusic album review and called it "among her best efforts". Writers Mary A. Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann called her vocal delivery "whispery", and characterized her songs as being "whimpering heartache material". Her success was recognized by the Academy of Country Music Awards, who named her their "Top New Female Vocalist" in 1979. It became her second LP to reach the Billboard Top Country Albums list, peaking at number 38. The album also spawned the top 20 Billboard country singles, "Slippin' Up, Slippin' Around" and "Come to My Love". Despite receiving positive reviews, including one from Billboard magazine, the single was her final to chart in the top 20. A corresponding album of the same name followed that peaked in the top 40 on the Billboard country LP's chart. Songs such as "The Good Old Days" and "I've Come Back (To Say I Love You One More Time)" reached chart positions outside the country top 40. Her next studio project was an album of traditional pop standards called Harbor Lights. It was followed by a re-recorded patriotic salute to Vietnam veterans in 1986. She released the holiday-themed White Christmas in 1987.

In 1987, a pair of singles released on the label reached minor Billboard country chart positions, including a cover of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands". It was followed by an album of secular cover tunes in 1991. Transitioning into the 1990s, Lane and Stoller opened the "Cristy Lane Theater" in Branson, Missouri. Lane was among the first country artists to use Branson as a tourist attraction to Nashville music fans. Lane's theater was also used as a way to introduce up-and-coming music acts. In August 2003, she was honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in San Antonio, Texas, for her service to the military, and was inducted into its hall of fame. Lane was the first female country performer to be inducted into their hall of fame. Plans were also laid during this period to film a biopic of Lane's life story,

Discography

Awards and nominations 1978 Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Female Vocalist 1983 26th Annual Grammy Awards Best Inspirational Performance – "I've Come Back (To Say I Love You One More Time)"