Sonny James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sonny James
|
|
|---|---|
James in 1967
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Hugh Loden |
| Also known as | Sonny James The Southern Gentleman |
| Born | May 1, 1928 |
| Origin | Hackleburg, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | February 22, 2016 (aged 87) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | country, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1953–1983 |
| Labels | |
Jimmie Hugh Loden (born May 1, 1928 – died February 22, 2016) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He was known as Sonny James. People called him "The Southern Gentleman" because he was always polite.
Sonny James had a huge hit in 1957 called "Young Love". This song was number one on both the country and pop music charts. He had 72 songs that made it onto the music charts between 1953 and 1983. He also had an amazing streak of 16 straight songs that reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country chart. Overall, he had 26 number one country hits.
From 1964 to 1976, 21 of his albums were in the Top 10 of Billboard Top Country Albums. In 1961, Sonny James received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also helped host the first Country Music Association Awards Show in 1967. In 2007, he was added to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Contents
Sonny James's Early Life and Music Career
Growing Up and Starting Music
Jimmie Hugh Loden was born on May 1, 1928. His parents, Archie Lee "Pop" Loden and Della Burleson Loden, had a farm in Hackleburg, Alabama. His parents loved music and played instruments. His sister, Thelma Lee Loden Holcombe, also sang and played music from a young age.
When Jimmie was only three years old, he could play the mandolin and sing. People started calling him "Sonny Boy." In 1933, his family got a chance to perform on the radio. They were given a regular Saturday show on radio station WMSD-AM in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Around this time, his parents took in a girl named Ruby Palmer. Soon, Ruby joined the family's music group. They became known as the Loden Family, and later as Sonny Loden and the Southerners. They performed in theaters, auditoriums, and schools all over the Southern United States.
Becoming a Full-Time Musician
At first, playing music was a part-time hobby for the family. They would go back to their farm after each show. But after a few years, Sonny's father decided they were good enough to be full-time musicians. He rented out their farm, and they started performing daily on radio station KLCN.
After that, they performed on several other radio stations in the South. In 1949, they returned to Alabama and had a show on radio station WSGN in Birmingham, Alabama. Near Christmas that year, the two girls in the group got married and left. The parents found other girls to join, but the group soon broke up. Sonny's parents went back to Hackleburg and opened a clothing store. Sonny worked there while finishing high school.
In the summer of 1950, Sonny played guitar with a band on the radio station WHBQ in Memphis, Tennessee.
Joining the Army and Moving to Nashville
On September 9, 1950, Sonny's music career paused when he joined the Korean War. After serving in Korea, James moved to Nashville. He stayed with famous guitarist Chet Atkins and his wife for a week.
Chet Atkins invited Capitol Records executive Ken Nelson to dinner. Sonny played some of his songs for them. Ken Nelson liked what he heard and wanted to record Sonny. Nelson suggested that Sonny drop his last name, Loden. He thought "James" would be easier for people to remember. So, Sonny released his first record as Sonny James.
Early Success and TV Appearances
While performing on Louisiana Hayride, Sonny met musician Slim Whitman. Sonny's singing and fiddle playing impressed the crowd. Slim Whitman asked him to join his touring band. Sonny stayed with Slim's group for two months. He decided not to play in clubs, as his family had only performed in schools and similar places. For the rest of his career, he never played a club show.
Over the next few years, several of his songs did well on the country music charts. He kept performing at live country music shows and on the radio. He also became a regular performer on ABC's Ozark Jubilee TV show starting in October 1955.
Sonny James's Biggest Hits
"Young Love" Becomes a Crossover Hit
In late 1956, Sonny James released "Young Love." This song became a huge hit and is what many people remember him for. It was the first country song by a teenager to become a "crossover" hit. This means it was popular on both country and pop music charts in January and February 1957.
The song sold over one million copies and earned a gold record. Sonny James became known as the Southern Gentleman because of his kind behavior. He gained even more fame by appearing on popular TV shows like Ed Sullivan Show and the Bob Hope Show.
Finding His Sound and Joining the Grand Ole Opry
After "Young Love," Sonny spent seven years trying to find a unique sound for his music. He recorded with different record labels like Capitol Records, National Recording Corporation, Dot, and RCA.
In 1962, he returned to his roots and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. A year later, he signed with Capitol Records again. From 1964 to 1972, he was a very important artist in country music. Sonny James and his band, the Southern Gentlemen, appeared on major TV shows. These included Ed Sullivan, Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, and Hee Haw. He also made small singing appearances in four movies.
The Southern Gentlemen and Number One Streak
On August 15, 1964, Sonny James started performing with a vocal group called the Southern Gentlemen. This group had four young men: Lin Bown, Gary Robble, Duane West, and Glenn Huggins. They had been singing together since 1959.
Sonny felt he had found the perfect sound with these young men. Along with his talented bass player Milo Liggett, they became the Southern Gentlemen. Two months later, Sonny had his first number one hit since "Young Love." It was a song he co-wrote called "You're The Only World I Know."
With his new musical style, Sonny James began an amazing streak. He had 16 straight number one singles. No other solo artist has ever had such a long streak in any music genre!
More Number One Hits
His incredible streak began in 1967 with "Need You" and ended in 1971 with "Here Comes Honey Again". During his career, Sonny James had a total of 26 number one country singles. His last number one hit was "Is It Wrong (For Loving You)" in 1974. He had 72 songs that made it onto the music charts.
In 1973, Sonny James also helped start the solo career of Marie Osmond. He produced her first three albums, including her huge hit, "Paper Roses."
Sonny James's Personal Life and Legacy
Family and Retirement
In July 1957, Sonny married Doris Shrode in Dallas, Texas.
In the spring of 1984, Sonny and Doris quietly retired to their home in Nashville, Tennessee. Sonny often returned to his hometown of Hackleburg, Alabama, for the Neighbor Day Festival. He recognized Hackleburg's 100th birthday at the festival in 2009.
Sonny James passed away on February 22, 2016, in Nashville, at the age of 87. He died of natural causes. He is buried in Cedar Tree Cemetery in Hackleburg, Alabama.
Awards and Recognition
- In 1957, Sonny James was the first country artist to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show.
- In 1961, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was the first country music star to get this honor.
- In 1967, he co-hosted the first CMA Awards show.
- From 1969 to 1971, Sonny James had a unique achievement. Five of his number one hits were songs that had been successful for R&B artists. These included "Since I Met You Baby" and "It's Just A Matter of Time."
- In 1969, Billboard magazine named Sonny James Country Music's Artist of the Year.
- In February 1971, Sonny James was the first country artist whose music went into space! He made a special recording for the crew of Apollo 14. They later gave him one of the small American flags they carried to the Moon.
- In 1973, he produced Marie Osmond's first three albums. Her song "Paper Roses" reached number one when she was only 13. She became the youngest female solo artist to reach number one on that chart.
- In 1987, James was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
- In 2007, Sonny James and his Southern Gentlemen were officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
- In 2009, James was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Discography
See also
In Spanish: Sonny James para niños
