R.I.P.: Patti Page

Patti Page, whose comforting voice made hits of heartbreaking ballads ("Tennessee Waltz") and novelty songs ("How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?"), died Tuesday January 1, 2013. She was 85 years old.

“Tennessee Waltz,” from 1950, sold 10 million copies and is largely considered the first true crossover hit; it spent months on the pop, country and rhythm-and-blues charts.

Ms. Page was believed to be the first singer to overdub herself, long before technology made that method common. Mitch Miller, a producer for Mercury Records, had her do it first on “Confess,” in 1948, when there were no backup singers because of a strike. MORE HERE & HERE