ROOTS of Country Music

The Professional Work of Sonny James

(born May 1, 1929)

Career Highlights

No. 18 All-Time Country Music Artist

Stage Name: Southern Gentleman 

Barn Dance Affiliates

• Big D Jamboree
• Louisiana Hayride
• Ozark Jubilee
• Saturday Night Shindig

Film, Night Club, Radio & TV

• Austin City Limits, 4
• Ed Sullivan Show, 4 
• Ernest Tubb’s  Midnight Jamboree, 3
• Gilley’s Club, 2
• Hee Haw, 4
• Nashville Now, 4
• Pop Goes the Country, 4
• The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, 4
• The Johnny cash Show, 4
• The Porter Wagoner Show, 4
• The Wilburn Brothers Show, 4 

1-Film, 2-Night Club, 3-Radio, 4-TV 

Billboard Chart Data

• No. 1 Singles: 23
• Top-10 Singles: 43
• Crossover Singles: 2
• Consecutive No. 1 Singles 16#
• Charted Singles: 72
• Chart Years Active: 1953 - 1983

#-Tied for the Most in Country Music 

Awards

Country Music Association

• Country Music Hall of Fame -2006

Billboard Magazine

• Artist of the Year  -1969

Other Awards

• Alabama Music Hall of Fame -1987

Billboard No. 1 & Top-10 Singles 

1. That's Me Without You -1953
2. For Rent (One Empty Heart) -156
3. Young Love*#
4. You're The Reason I'm In Love -1957
5. First Date, First Kiss, First Love#
6. Uh-Huh-mm -1958
7. The Minute You're Gone -1963
8. Baltimore -1964
9. You're The Only World I Know*
10. I'll Keep Holding On -1965
11. Behind the Tear*
12. True Love's A Blessing
13. Take Good Care Of Her* -1966
14. Room In Your Heart
15. Need You* -1967
16. I'll Never Find Another You*
17. It's the Little Things*
18. A World of Our Own* -1968
19. Heaven Says Hello*
20. Born to Be With You*
21. Only The Lonely* -1969
22. Running Bear*
23. Since I Met You Baby*
24. It's Just A Matter Of Time* -1970
25. My Love*
26. Don't Keep Me Hangin' On*
27. Endlessly*
28. Empty Arms* -1971
29. Bright Lights, Big City*
30. Here Comes Honey Again*
31. Only Love Can Break A Heart -1972
32. That's Why I Love You Like I Do*
33. When the Snow Is on the Roses*
34. White Silver Sands
35. I Love You More and More -1973
36. Is it Wrong (For Loving You)* -1974
37. A Mi Esosa Con Amor
38. A Little Bit South of Saskatoon -1975
39. Little Band of Gold
40. What in the World's Come Over You
41. When Something is Wrong -1976
42. Come on in
43. You're Free to Go -1977 

*-No. 1 Chart Single

#-Crossover Single

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Young Love: The Sonny James Story

Singer, songwriter Sonny James is best known for his 1957 smash hit, Young Love. Dubbed the Southern Gentleman, Sonny James used the popular Nashville sound of the '60s to mold pop hits of the past into a style accessible to many, broadening country music's appeal across the nation. Although his recordings made the pop charts for a time in the late '50s, his success was crafted on the country charts.

Born James Loden on May 1, 1929, he began performing with his amateur show-business family at the age of three and played with his four sisters as the Loden Family while in his teens. The group appeared around the South and on radio shows like the Louisiana Hayride (KWKH) and Saturday Night Shindig (WFAA, Dallas,Texas). In the spring of 1948, the family act broke up when James was inducted into the military service.

After spending time overseas during the Korean War (1950 ~1952), he went to Shreveport, Louisianawhere he appeared on the famed Louisiana Hayride over KWKH. From there, his career took him toDallas,Texaswhere he appeared on WFAA radio programs. Later, he became a star on the Big D Jamboree and the Red Foley show out of Springfield, Missouri- the Ozark Jubilee.

From Dallas, Sonny James moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he met Chet Atkins. At the time Chet, was already an established recording artist, session musician and featured act on the Prince Albert portion of The Grand Ole Opry. Atkins later got James a tryout with Capitol Records. James inked a contract with capitol and started working under the helm of Artists and repertoire (A&R) Executive Ken Nelson.

For the first session (6/11/1952), Ken selected four songs written during James’s tour in Korea.  Atkins was recruited for lead guitar, Jerry Byrd played (steel), Eddie Hill (rhythm guitar) and Floyd “Lightnin’” Chance was on bass.  The session took place at the Castle Studios (WSM) in the Tulane Hotel (Nashville,TN).

His debut single, That's Me Without You, made the Top 10 in 1953. His follow-up song, For Rent charted three years later. However, the best was yet to come. James, who played guitar on virtually all of his records, followed up with two minor singles in 1956 with Twenty Feet of Muddy Water"(No. 11) and The Cat Came Back  No. 12). His next single became his biggest hit and catapulted him into the national spotlight: Young Love spent 9 weeks at No. 1 (1956), crossed over to top the pop charts and earned gold certification with sales in excess of one million copies.

His years as a cast member with The Ozark Jubilee and his frequent appearances on the nationally televised Ed Sullivan Show showcased his new releases to millions of viewers, while creating additional interest for guest appearances on other television programs, notably Bob Hope, Andy Williams. Variety Specials also gave valuable exposure.

In 1957, James began to focus his attention on the popular charts. First Date, First Kiss, First Love rose to No. 9, but his subsequent singles did not do well. However, most of his songs managed to reach the Top 10 the country chart, so James returned to country with a vengeance in 1964. It had been eight years since his last No. 1, but You're the Only World I Know was the first of numerous chart topping hits that followed.

Beginning in 1967 with Need You and ending with Here Comes Honey Again in 1971, James recorded 16 straight number one country singles from a total of 72 charted hits. OnlyAlabama has had more with 21 between 1980 ~ 1987.

James re-established his career as one of the most successful recording artists of all time. For nineteen years (1960-1979), his hit recordings were a driving force in the growth of Country radio. From 1964 to 1972, James was a dominant force in country music. He was a guest on the Bob Hope Show and Hee Haw, and made minor appearances in several Hollywood motion pictures. In 1969 Billboard magazine named him Artist of the Year.

James completely dominated the chart from 1964 to 1972. Even after James' number one streak ended in January 1972, he continued to place high on the charts. The No. 2 song, Only Love Can Break a Heart was followed by That's Why I Love You Like I Do (No. 1, 1972) and brought to close his long standing Capitol Records association.

After moving to Columbiain 1972, his debut chart single, When the Snow Is on the Roses, marked his twenty second number one. James' next single, Is It Wrong (For Loving You), (No. 1, 1974), was his final number one and it ended his chart dominance.

James followed with four consecutive top-10 hits, A Mi Esposa con Amor (No. 4, 1974), A Little Bit South of Saskatoon (No. 6, 1975), Little Band of Gold (No. 5, 1975) and his final top-10, You’re Free to go (No. 9, 1977). James moved to the Monument label in 1979, then to Dimension two years late, but only charted one top twenty song.

Sonny James had 72 country and pop chart hits from 1953 to 1983. During this streak of hits, James scored an incredible run of 16 Consecutive No. 1 singles among his total of 23. Twenty-one of his albums reached the country top ten from 1964 to 1976.

After leaving Capitol Records for the first time in 1959, he recorded albums with RCA (1961–1962) and Dot Records ((1960–1961) respectively. His career also included his second stint with Capit0l (1963–1972), Columbia (1972–1979), Monument (1979), and Dimension (1981–1983).

In 1987 James was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame- the Lifework Award for Performing Achievement. In 2006, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. James is currently retired and lives near Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, compiled and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music Feb. 2009