Cristy Lane is best remembered for her 1979 #1 Country Single "One Day at a Time, " a gospel song. She is also noteworthy as one of the builders of the Branson, MO, live-entertainment phenomenon. Lane was born Eleanor Johnston to a family of 12 in Peoria, IL. Married before she was 20, she had three children by 1964. Her husband, Lee Stoller, a salesman, encouraged her to sing professionally, but she was painfully shy. After some tentative attempts, she landed several nightclub appearances and then a guest slot on Chicago’s WGN Barn Dance radio program in 1968. She took her stage name from that of a Chicago DJ, from WJJD Radio, Chris Lane.
Several early attempts to break into country music in Nashville came to nothing, and Lane struggled with the pressures of the performing career her husband was urging upon her. She lost all hope in the late ‘60s, after a difficult 1969 tour of Vietnam, organized by Stoller during which Lane performed 120 shows and was involved in a helicopter crash that left her stranded in the midst of a battle. Lane and Stoller returned to Peoria and opened a pair of nightclubs that featured Lane as the marquee attraction.
In 1972, the Stoller family moved to a Nashville suburb and continued its attempts to get Lane’s career off the ground. The reaction from established label executives ranged from indifference to sexual come-ons for Lane, and finally Stoller formed his own label, LS, in the mid-‘70s. He was tireless in promoting Lane’s career, and his efforts were rewarded when the label’s debut single, "Tryin’ to Forget About You, " and its follow-up, "Sweet Deceiver, " made the charts in 1977. That year she also made it to the Top Ten and the Top 20 with "Let Me Down Easy" and "Shake Me, I Rattle, " respectively. Lane scored three more hits the following year and in 1979 was named New Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. During the awards ceremony Lane sang "I Just Can’t Stay Married to You, " which later became a Top Five hit. In late 1979, Lane was signed to United Artists Records and had more hits. Her first gold record "One Day at a Time, " was from the country of New Zealand.
But the label balked at releasing the song Lane and Stoller had planned for their next single, "One Day at a Time. " That song was a several-year-old entry from Kris Kristofferson’s catalog of compositions; co-written with Nashville veteran Marijohn Wilkin, it was of a piece with other religious songs (such as "Why Me, Lord? ") the hard-living Kristofferson had written in soberer moments. Shortly before Lane’s version appeared, the song had topped British charts in a version by vocalist Lena Martell. For country radio in 1980, it was an unorthodox song, but Lane and Stoller correctly estimated its powerful impact. After it hit number one on the country charts, Lane released "Sweet Sexy Eyes, " another Top Ten hit. Her career hit the skids temporarily when Stoller was imprisoned on racketeering charges in 1982, but the couple bounced back after Stoller observed the spectacular success yodeler-crooner Slim Whitman had experienced after beginning direct television marketing of his music.
In 1984, as spotlighted by EMI without any promotion or advertising Cristy Lane surfaced as their top selling artist in the Country of India. Surpassing sales of such artists as David Bowie, Tina Turner, Sheena Easton, Rolling Stones, etc to name a few. Per V.T. Ravi, Assistant Manager International Music Division, "the younger generation were looking for something new and Cristy Lane was just right. " "Cristy Lane was a blockbuster! "
In 1985 Stoller and Lane would pen her biography. After Stoller exhausted all avenues of publishers throughout the world, with the same response "biographies just don’t sell. " He took it upon himself to publish the biography. He bypassed the conventional way and took it straight to the public. The public spoke very loud "they loved it. " The story would become a #1 million selling biography. The rest is history.
By 1986 Lane and Stoller had put together a strong pair of linked materials: a "One Day at a Time" album and a Lane biography of the same name. Marketed through television advertising and later on the World Wide Web, these items sold well for years and continue to do so, keeping Lane’s name before the public. As Branson began to emerge as a major entertainment destination in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Lane and Stoller emerged on the forefront. Their Cristy Lane Theatre became a major Branson attraction, hosting not only Lane’s own performances but also early appearances by Branson stars such as Ray Price, Ray Stevens, etc. After nine years of performances at her theatre Lane and Stoller leased her Branson theater in the mid ‘90s. Lane remained a #1 selling artist on television. She recorded several albums of gospel and sentimental standards for marketing through her website and worldwide. Plans were laid in the early 2000s for a film depicting Lane’s life story.
In 2003 Lane would receive the Veterans of Foreign Wars — Hall of Fame Award. In special recognition of a lifetime of supporting our nations warriors through uniquely positive musical performances. Beginning in 1969 with one hundred twenty shows in Vietnam, and continuing with performances throughout Midwestern military bases, Cristy has brought joy, a positive message and comfort from home to hundreds of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. Moreover, her recordings and biography have provided inspiration to millions of our citizens around the world with integrity, talent and honesty "One day at a Time. " Cristy, overwhelmed by the Honor would respond saying "Being inducted into the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall of Fame was the greatest honor in my lifetime. "
In 2005 following the disastrous affects of the December 2004 Sri Lanka Tsunami, Cristy Lane would release an album through EMI marketing of which all proceeds would go to the Tsunami Victims Fund.
In 2008, Cristy Lane’s "19 Classic Hymns" is released in mainland China of which a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Earthquake Victims Fund.
Read Cristy Lane’s biography "One Day at a Time" truly one of the best and most read biographies throughout the world. Next the movie . . . you don’t want to miss this. Sure to be one of the BEST!
