They called them “girl singers” when Dottie West began her career in country music 25 years ago, and there weren’t many of them around. Dottie was one of pioneers in establishing females as songwriters and solo singing stars in Music City and she helped change the status from mere “girl” stage decoration to woman headliner. Dottie’s on Harvey’s Emerald Theater Stage July 15-16. Although raised south of Nashville in a poor family of 10 children, Dottie developed determination to become a music major at Tennessee Tech, them begin a country career in Cleveland, Ohio, hosting a country TV show. During one of her many commutes back and fourth between her hometown and Cleveland, she stopped north of Nashville long enough to march into the office Star Day Records and auditioned live for her first recording contract. That was in 1959. She began writing songs in 1961 when she became buddies with other struggling country youngsters Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, and Hank Cochran. Her first songwriting effort, “Is This Me”, became a chart-topping hit for Jim Reeves in 1963. Today, with more than 400 songs into her composing career, Dottie has several BNI Awards to show for her efforts, as well as numerous self-composed hits. Dottie West is nearly as celebrated for her glamour and beauty ass he is for her music. She shed ginghams-and-crinolins country image in favour of a svelte, sexy new look four years ago, and she has kept up that striking appearance. She’s making her movie debut in “Aurora,” a tale of extraterrestrials in Texas! She is also negotiating for her first Broadway musical role. The latter came about after her 1983 experience touring nationally in the lead role in “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas”. Dottie West proves to be a woman in the prime of her life, and at the peak of her profession. Appearing next in Harvey’s Emerald Theater, music of the Commodores July 21-23.