Sonny James
Sonny James (born May 1, 1928 as James Loden in Hackleburg , Alabama , † February 22, 2016 in Nashville , Tennessee ) was an American country singer . He was considered the leading representative of the Nashville sound and had more than 70 hits in the pop and country charts between 1953 and 1983; including 23 number one titles. The biggest hit of the "Southern Gentleman" in 1956 was Young Love .
Beginnings
Sonny James, as James Loden was called from childhood, came from a family with a musical tradition. At the age of four, he was on stage with his sisters as the Loden Family. They appeared in clubs in the vicinity and on radio shows . A draft to the military initially interrupted his career. But even during his participation in the Korean War , he had the opportunity to entertain his comrades and the local population with his own songs.
Career
After returning home, he continued his appearances in country clubs. Here he met Chet Atkins , who gave him a record deal with the Capitol label in 1952 . His first single, That's Me Without You , made it into the country top 10. Then it was three years before he could achieve the next hit with For Rent (One Empty Heart) . A little later, James made his breakthrough with Ric Cartey's Young Love . The single was number one on the country charts for nine weeks and reached number 2 on the pop charts.
Encouraged by the success, Sonny James focused on the pop market for the next few years. Although he achieved some notable successes such as First Date, First Kiss, First Love , which reached number 39 in 1957, he had promised more. Even his many tours and concert appearances did not improve the situation. So he finally returned to country music in the mid-1960s. His first single, You're the Only World I Know , reached number one on the country charts. It was the beginning of a long series of 23 number one hits that lasted until 1972. Starting with I'll Never Find Another You , he had sixteen consecutive top hits from 1967. Its success was mainly due to the popularity of the Nashville sound , which Sonny James embodied like no other. His songs were massively enriched with orchestral instrumentation and background choirs. In addition, there was his clear and pleasant voice and romantic texts.
In 1972 the "country gentleman" switched to the Columbia label , where he achieved the next top hit with When the Snow Is on the Roses . From the mid-1970s, the sales of his records finally decreased. During this time he started working as a producer. With Marie Osmond he also achieved some successes here, including the million-seller Paper Roses . In 1979 he changed the label again. He ended his career in the mid-1980s and then lived with his wife in Nashville . Sonny James was a member of the Grand Ole Opry , has had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1971, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He died in February 2016 at the age of 87.
Discography
Studio albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US
|
Country
|
|||
| 1964 | You're The Only World I Know | - |
Country2 (20 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| 1965 | I'll Keep Holding On (Just to Your Love) | - |
Country2 (16 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| Behind the tear | - |
Country2 (31 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| True Love's a Blessing | - |
Country3 (22 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| 1966 | Till the Last Leaf Shall Fall | - |
Country6 (18 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| My Christmas Dream |
US73 (... weeks) US |
- |
Capitol
|
|
| 1967 | Need you | - |
Country1 (21 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| I'll never find another you | - |
Country6 (19 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| A World of Our Own | - |
Country8 (17 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| 1968 | Heaven Says Hello | - |
Country16 (11 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| Born to be with you | - |
Country2 (22 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| 1969 | Only the lonely |
US161 (3 weeks) US |
Country4 (18 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| 1970 | It's just a matter of time |
US177 (4 weeks) US |
Country4 (19 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| My Love / Don't Keep Me Hangin 'On |
US197 (2 weeks) US |
Country8 (22 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| # 1 Biggest Hits in Country Music |
US187 (4 weeks) US |
Country6 (24 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| 1971 | Empty arms |
US150 (5 weeks) US |
Country9 (18 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| The Sensational Sonny James |
US197 (2 weeks) US |
Country6 (13 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| Here comes honey again | - |
Country16 (12 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| 1972 | That's Why I Love You Like I Do | - |
Country5 (16 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| When The Snow Is on the Roses |
US190 (5 weeks) US |
Country4 (21 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
|
| 1973 | The Greatest Country Hits of '72 | - |
Country12 (13 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
| If She Just Helps Me Get over You | - |
Country17 (9 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
|
| 1974 | Is It Wrong | - |
Country22 (8 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
| Mis Esposa Con Amor (To My Wife with Love) | - |
Country27 (7 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
|
| 1975 | A Little Bit South of Saskatoon / Little Band of Gold | - |
Country29 (7 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
| The Guitars of Sonny James | - |
Country41 (11 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
|
| Country Male Artist of the Decade | - |
Country31 (7 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
|
| 1976 | 200 Years of Country Music | - |
Country6 (25 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
| When Something Is Wrong with My Baby | - |
Country26 (8 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
|
| 1977 | You're free to go | - |
Country25 (9 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
more publishments
- 1957: The Southern Gentleman (Capitol)
- 1957: Sonny (Capitol)
- 1958: Honey (Capitol)
- 1959: The Sonny Side (Capitol)
- 1964: The Minute You're Gone (Capitol)
- 1978: This Is the Love (Columbia)
- 1979: Sunny Side Up (Monument)
- 1982: I'm Looking Over the Rainbow (Dimension)
Live albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
US
|
Country
|
|||
| 1969 | The Astrodome Presents in person Sonny James |
US83 (13 weeks) US |
Country4 (20 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| 1977 | In prison, in person | - |
Country25 (11 weeks) Country |
Columbia
|
Compilations
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
US
|
Country
|
|||
| 1966 | The Best of Sonny James |
US141 (4 weeks) US |
Country1 (34 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| 1969 | The Best of Sonny James, Vol. 2 | - |
Country26 (10 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| Sonny James Close Up |
US184 (3 weeks) US |
Country38 (4 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
| 1971 | Biggest hits | - |
Country7 (16 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| 1972 | Traces | - |
Country21 (12 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| 1973 | The Gentleman from the South | - |
Country41 (3 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
| Young Love | - |
Country50 (2 weeks) Country |
Capitol
|
|
more publishments
- 1973: Hit Sounds (Capitol)
- 1978: Greatest Hits (Columbia)
- 1986: Sonny James (Dot / MCA)
- 1989: American Originals (Columbia)
- 1990: Capitol Collector's Series (Capitol)
- 1991: The Best of Sonny James (Curb)
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 UK
|
US
|
Country
|
|||
| 1952 | That's me without you |
- | - |
Country9 (... weeks) Country |
|
| 1954 | She Done Give Her Heart to Me |
- | - |
Country14 (... weeks) Country |
|
| 1956 | For Rent (One Empty Heart) The Best of Sonny James |
- | - |
Country7 (... weeks) Country |
|
| Twenty Feet of Muddy Water The Minute You're Gone |
- | - |
Country11 (... weeks) Country |
||
| The Cat Came Back You're the Only World I Know |
UK30 (1 week) UK |
- |
Country12 (... weeks) Country |
||
| Young Love The Sonny Side |
UK11 (7 weeks) UK |
US1 (... week) US |
Country1 (... week) Country |
||
| You're the Reason I'm in Love |
- | - |
Country6 (... weeks) Country |
B-side of Young Love
|
|
| 1957 | First Date, First Kiss, First Love The Sonny Side |
- |
US25 (... weeks) US |
Country9 (... weeks) Country |
|
| Lovesick Blues The Sonny Side |
- | - |
Country15 (... weeks) Country |
||
| Uh-Huh-mm The Sonny Side |
- |
US92 (... weeks) US |
Country8 (... weeks) Country |
||
| 1958 | You got that touch |
- |
US94 (2 weeks) US |
- | |
| 1959 | Talk of the School |
- |
US85 (5 weeks) US |
- | |
| I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know Sonny |
- |
US80 (3 weeks) US |
- | ||
| 1960 | Jenny Lou |
- |
US67 (6 weeks) US |
Country22 (6 weeks) Country |
|
| 1961 | Apache |
- |
US87 (2 weeks) US |
- | |
| 1963 | The Minute You're Gone The Minute You're Gone |
- |
US95 (1 week) US |
Country9 (15 weeks) Country |
|
| Going Through the Motions (Of Living) The Minute You're Gone |
- | - |
Country17 (9 weeks) Country |
||
| 1964 | Baltimore You're the Only World I Know |
- |
US95 (... weeks) US |
Country6 (17 weeks) Country |
|
| Sugar Lump You're the Only World I Know |
- | - |
Country27 (6 weeks) Country |
||
| Ask Marie |
- | - |
Country19 (13 weeks) Country |
B-side of Sugar Lump
|
|
| You're the Only World I Know You're the Only World I Know |
- |
US91 (6 weeks) US |
Country1 (25 weeks) Country |
||
| 1965 | I'll Keep Holding On (Just to Your Love) I'll Keep Holding On (Just to Your Love) |
- | - |
Country2 (20 weeks) Country |
|
| Behind the Tear Behind the Tear |
- | - |
Country1 (22 weeks) Country |
||
| True Love's a Blessing True Love's a Blessing |
- | - |
Country3 (18 weeks) Country |
||
| 1966 | Take Good Care of Her True Love's a Blessing |
- | - |
Country1 (20 weeks) Country |
|
| Room in Your Heart The Best of Sonny James |
- | - |
Country2 (20 weeks) Country |
||
| 1967 | Need you, need you |
- | - |
Country1 (18 weeks) Country |
|
| I'll Never Find Another You I'll Never Find Another You |
- |
US97 (3 weeks) US |
Country1 (17 weeks) Country |
||
| It's the Little Things Behind the Tear |
- | - |
Country1 (... week) Country |
||
| 1968 | A World of Our Own A World of Our Own |
- | - |
Country1 (17 weeks) Country |
|
| Heaven Says Hello Heaven Says Hello |
- | - |
Country1 (17 weeks) Country |
||
| Born to Be with You Born to Be with You |
- |
US81 (4 weeks) US |
Country1 (16 weeks) Country |
||
| 1969 | Only the Lonely Only the Lonely |
- |
US92 (4 weeks) US |
Country1 (16 weeks) Country |
|
| Running Bear The Astrodome Presents in Person |
- |
US94 (2 weeks) US |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
||
| Since I Met You Baby The Astrodome Presents in Person |
- |
US65 (7 weeks) US |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
||
| It's Just a Matter of Time It's just a Matter of Time |
- |
US87 (4 weeks) US |
Country1 (14 weeks) Country |
||
| 1970 | My Love My Love / Don't Keep Me Hangin 'On |
- | - |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
|
| Don't Keep Me Hangin 'On My Love / Don't Keep Me Hangin' On |
- | - |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
||
| Endlessly Empty Arms |
- | - |
Country1 (16 weeks) Country |
||
| 1971 | Empty Arms Empty Arms |
- |
US93 (3 weeks) US |
Country1 (16 weeks) Country |
|
| Bright Lights, Big City The Sensational Sonny James |
- |
US91 (3 weeks) US |
Country1 (13 weeks) Country |
||
| Here Comes Honey Again Here Comes Honey Again |
- | - |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
||
| Only Love Can Break a Heart Biggest Hits |
- | - |
Country2 (16 weeks) Country |
||
| 1972 | That's Why I Love You Like I Do That’s Why I Love You Like I Do |
- | - |
Country1 (11 weeks) Country |
|
| When the Snow Is on the Roses When the Snow Is on the Roses |
- | - |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
||
| Traces traces |
- | - |
Country30 (9 weeks) Country |
||
| White Silver Sands When the Snow Is on the Roses |
- | - |
Country5 (14 weeks) Country |
||
| Downfall of Me That’s Why I Love You Like I Do |
- | - |
Country32 (10 weeks) Country |
||
| 1973 | Reach Out Your Hand and Touch Me Empty Arms |
- | - |
Country61 (4 weeks) Country |
|
| If She Helps Me Get Over You If She Helps Me Get Over You |
- | - |
Country15 (11 weeks) Country |
||
| Heaven on Earth The Sensational Sonny James |
- | - |
Country66 (5 weeks) Country |
||
| Surprise, Surprise Here Comes Honey Again |
- | - |
Country49 (9 weeks) Country |
||
| 1974 | Is It Wrong (For Loving You) Is It Wrong |
- | - |
Country1 (15 weeks) Country |
|
| A Mi Esposa Con Amor (To My Wife with Love) A Mi Esposa Con Amor (To My Wife with Love) |
- | - |
Country4 (17 weeks) Country |
||
| 1975 | A Little Bit South of Saskatoon A Little Bit South of Saskatoon / Little Band of Gold |
- | - |
Country6 (12 weeks) Country |
|
| Little Band of Gold A Little Bit South of Saskatoon / Little Band of Gold |
- | - |
Country5 (15 weeks) Country |
||
| What in the World's Come Over You Country Male Artist of the Decade |
- | - |
Country10 (15 weeks) Country |
||
| Eres Tu (Touch the Wind) The Guitars of Sonny James |
- | - |
Country67 (8 weeks) Country |
||
| 1976 | Prisoner's Song 200 Years of Country Music |
- | - |
Country14 (12 weeks) Country |
|
| When Something Is Wrong with My Baby When Something Is Wrong with My Baby |
- | - |
Country6 (15 weeks) Country |
||
| Come On In Greatest Hits |
- | - |
Country8 (14 weeks) Country |
||
| 1977 | You're Free to Go You're Free to Go |
- | - |
Country9 (13 weeks) Country |
|
| In the Jailhouse Now In Prison In Person |
- | - |
Country15 (11 weeks) Country |
with His Tennessee State Prison Band
|
|
| Abilene In Prison In Person |
- | - |
Country24 (13 weeks) Country |
with His Tennessee State Prison Band
|
|
| 1978 | This Is the Love This Is the Love |
- | - |
Country16 (12 weeks) Country |
|
| Caribbean This Is the Love |
- | - |
Country18 (12 weeks) Country |
||
| Building Memories Greatest Hits |
- | - |
Country30 (12 weeks) Country |
||
| 1979 | Hold What You've Got Sunny Side Up |
- | - |
Country36 (9 weeks) Country |
|
| Lorelei Sunny Side Up |
- | - |
Country62 (6 weeks) Country |
||
| 1981 | Innocent Lies I'm Looking Over the Rainbow |
- | - |
Country19 (16 weeks) Country |
with His Southern Gentleman
|
| 1982 | A Place in the Sun I'm Looking Over the Rainbow |
- | - |
Country60 (7 weeks) Country |
with His Southern Gentleman
|
| I'm Looking Over the Rainbow I'm Looking Over the Rainbow |
- | - |
Country66 (7 weeks) Country |
with silver
|
|
| The Fool in Me I'm Looking Over the Rainbow |
- | - |
Country33 (13 weeks) Country |
with silver
|
|
| 1983 | Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes I'm Looking Over the Rainbow |
- | - |
Country58 (... weeks) Country |
|
more publishments
- 1952: short cut
- 1953: Somebody Else's Heartache
- 1953: Poor Boy Rich Lovin '
- 1953: My Greatest Thrill
- 1954: That's How I Need You
- 1954: The People Next to Me
- 1954: I Forgot to Remember Santa Claus
- 1955: Lovin 'Season
- 1955: Ain't Gonna Take No Chance
- 1955: Till the Last Leaf Shall Fall
- 1955: Let's Go Bunny Huggin '
- 1955: Pigtails and Ribbons
- 1957: A Mighty Lovable Man
- 1958: Kathleen
- 1958: Are You Mine
- 1958: Let Me Be the One to Love You
- 1959: Dream Big
- 1959: Pure Love
- 1959: Who's Next in Line
- 1960: Wondering
- 1960: I Wish This Night Would Never End / Bimbo
- 1961: Innocent Angel
- 1962: (The Legend Of) Brown Mountain Light
- 1962: A Mile And A Quarter
- 1962: On the Longest Day
- 1966: Barefoot Santa Claus
- 1974: All the Way Together
- 1975: Maria Elena
Guest Posts
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Country
|
|||
| 1985 | One big family |
Country61 (... weeks) Country |
as part of Heart of Nashville
|
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.sonnyjames.com/hof/bio/
- ↑ Country Music Singer Sonny James Dies at 87
- ^ Whitburn, Joel: Top Pop Singles 1955-1993 . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Ltd., 1994, p. 302
- ↑ Place 25 in the "Jockey Charts"
- ^ Roland, Tom: The Billboard Book Of Number One Country Hits . New York City / New York: Billboard Books; London: Guinness Publishing Ltd., 1991, p. 4 and p. 574
- ↑ a b c d e Chart sources: US
Web links
Commons : Sonny James - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
- Official website
- Sonny James in the CHoF
- Literature by and about Sonny James in the catalog of the German National Library
- Sonny James in the Internet Movie Database (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | James, Sonny |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Loden, James (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 1, 1928 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Hackleburg , Alabama , USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 22, 2016 |
| Place of death | Nashville , Tennessee , USA |