Thanks, Marty, for sharing this article. Wow, I didn’t know he was 87!
Linda G.
From: ourplace-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ourplace-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Marty Rimpau
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 5:35 AM
To: our place list
Subject: [ourplace] sonny james, 87, legendary singer of no. 1 country hits
Sonny James, 87, legendary singer of No. 1 country hits . NASHVILLE - Country
singer Sonny James, who recorded romantic ballads such as "Young Love" and
turned pop songs into country hits, died Monday at a Nashville hospice. He was
87. The singer, born James Loden in Hackleburg, Ala., was known as the "Southern
Gentleman" because of his gentle, respectable demeanor. He was also a songwriter
as well as a guitarist and fiddler. He started his music career in his family's
band with his parents and his sister, Thelma. Before he reached high school age,
he already had performed on several country music radio shows. As Mr. James
started a solo career, a Capitol producer suggested he use a combination of his
nickname, "Sonny Boy," with his first name as his professional name. In 1956,
Mr. James scored his biggest hit, "Young Love," which sold 3 million copies and
became a No. 1 hit on the country and pop charts . A decade later, he started an
impressive run on top of the country charts with 16 No. 1 songs between 1967 and
1971. Other hits included "It's the Little Things," "You're the Only World I
Know," "I'll Never Find Another You," "Empty Arms," "That's Why I Love You Like
I Do," and "Here Comes Honey Again. "Sonny James was one of country music's
greatest. He was a true gentleman and made some of the greatest country music
records of all times, certainly some of my favorites," singer Dolly Parton said.
"Sonny made country music more commercial," said Gary Robble, lead singer of Mr.
James's backing band, the Southern Gentlemen. "He wasn't trying to. He was
singing what he enjoyed singing.
