Just received word that Charlie Dick, the widower of Patsy Cline, passed away. He died in his sleep at the age of 81.

Mr. Dick was a controversial figure, portrayed in the movie "Sweet Dreams" as being an abusive husband, even though the movie and the subsequent reawakening of public interest in his late wife made him and Patsy's two children millions of dollars.

He is quoted in Larry's book, "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story," talking about Jim, because Mr. Dick would hang out at Tootsie's, across the alley from the Grand Ole Opry. He also cooperated with Larry on a story that my husband did on Patsy for our magazine years ago. Charlie's brother later contacted us to purchase a lot of copies, saying it was the best article on Patsy they'd ever read.

Mr. Dick was lionized by fans who felt he was their last real connection with Patsy, but Larry's book includes quotes from sources close to the couple about the turbulent relationship Patsy and Charlie had. Since then, Larry has heard more upsetting stories from a very close family member who spent six hours one day talking with Larry about various details. But this is not the time to discuss all that.

Our condolences to the family. -- JULIE

Charlie was truly one of a kind! Back in 1989 I was seriously inurned in an accident and while I was at home recovering I got a call from Charlie in response to a letter I had written him, I remember my dad handing me the phone and telling me someone claiming to be Patsy Cline's husband was on the phone I am like yea right but It was Charlie and I remember him being so thoughtful and taking time to answer my questions about Patsy Cline and her career he also told me of his dislike for the movie Sweet Dreams that had recently came out I laughed when he made the comment that if he had hit Patsy like he was portrayed in the movie she would have killed him. Charlie will be missed because he was the main reason today's generation of lovers of Patsy Cline are familiar with her beautiful voice! If not for Charlie Patsy's career would have died with her in 1963! My Condolences go out to Julie, Randy and Chip your father will be missed he was truly one of a kind!

I'm not going to allow this quote from Charlie to stand without challenge just because the guy passed away. That was a tired old line he routinely used in an attempt to refute the movie portrayal of him as a wife beater. I have taped conversations with people VERY close to the situation who say the film did not go far enough.

As I've said before, just because someone passes away does not confer sainthood on them.

Spousal abuse is no joke.

If Charlie was the one responsible for keeping Patsy's music alive, then he must have done a good job because I still hear Patsy's music everywhere. We all know what Mary did throughout the years to keep Jim's music alive, and of course, she did a very good job as well. Jim had many chart hits for years after his death. The only difference is that I know lots of people that know who Patsy is, yet most of them have never heard of Jim. I don't really understand that.

One more thing I meant to say- I also never hear Jim's songs on the radio here in New York either, but Patsy I hear quite often.

I remember talking to Johnny Russell years ago about Jim and it was a few months after "Sweet Dreams" came out and I asked him about the movie and he said something very similar. His response was "Charlie never beat her like that if he had she would have knocked him down" so it sounds lik Johnny got his "talking points" from Charlie.

I thought the movie was ok but the problem with bio movies is people believe whatever Hollywood puts in them. There are a lot of people out there who believe Patsy crashed into the side of a mountain because the plane ran out of gas.

A lot of bio pics are partly fictionalized to add more sensationalism to the film. The greatest example of this would have to be "The Jolson Story", the life of singer Al Jolson. Probably about 80 percent of this film was fiction. This is a well known fact. For example, Jolson's Mother in the film was still alive when Al was in his forties. In real life, she died when he was a young boy. Jolson also had siblings in real life, and in the film, he was an only child. They were also characters in the movie that never even existed. The movie was a huge hit anyway, and I will admit that it's one of my favorite films of all time, along with the sequel "Jolson Sings Again".