No. 1 · January 1970
It's Just a Matter of Time
One of five R&B classics Sonny carried to the top of the country chart.
Country Music Hall of Fame · Inducted 2006
Country Music Hall of Fame · Inducted 2006
Country Music Hall of Fame · Class of 2006
The Southern Gentleman
Singer · Musician · Entertainer · Songwriter · Producer
From a family radio act in Hackleburg, Alabama to the top of the charts for three decades, Sonny James built one of the most remarkable careers in American music — including a run of sixteen consecutive No. 1 singles that no solo artist in any genre has ever matched.
May 1, 1928 — February 22, 2016
16
Consecutive No. 1 Singles
26
Total No. 1 Country Hits
72
Charted Releases
57
Weeks at No. 1, 1960–79
A record that still stands
According to Billboard, Sonny James spent more weeks at No. 1 than any other country artist between 1960 and 1979 — 57 weeks in all. At the heart of that run was a five-year stretch of sixteen consecutive No. 1 singles, a feat never before accomplished by a solo artist in country, pop or rock ’n’ roll.
Measured by the chart methods used today, the streak would stand at an extraordinary twenty-five No. 1s in a row.
Source: Billboard / Joel Whitburn’s Top Country Singles 1944–2001
Listen & Watch
Warm vocals, signature guitar and the close harmonies of the Southern Gentlemen — hear the recordings that carried country music to audiences it had never reached before.
Did you know?
The Innovator
With his 1966 No. 1 recording of Adam Wade’s “Take Good Care of Her,” made in the midst of the Civil Rights era, Sonny became the first country artist to carry an R&B song into the country mainstream. Five more followed — songs first cut by Ivory Joe Hunter, Brook Benton, Clyde Otis and Jimmy Reed — and every one reached No. 1.
For 27 years, from the birth of R&B in 1949 until 1976, no other country artist reached the top of the chart with an R&B song.
The Producer
Sonny produced Marie Osmond’s first three albums. At his suggestion, her debut single was “Paper Roses” — a No. 5 pop hit for Anita Bryant in 1960. Released in August 1973, it went to No. 1 country, crossed over to No. 5 pop and No. 1 Easy Listening, earned a Gold record and brought Marie a Grammy nomination.
Less than a month past her fourteenth birthday, Marie became the youngest artist ever to top Billboard’s Hot Country chart — a record that still stands. Those albums and the single sold more than a million copies worldwide.
Capitol Studios, Hollywood · 1963
A collaboration with a fellow Alabamian — and a favorite of Sonny and his father — became the formula for the greatest streak of consecutive No. 1 singles by any solo artist, in any genre, before or since.
In their words
“
This is an artist who really dominated his time in history.
“
I like Sonny James.
Photo galleries
More than 140 photographs from Sonny’s personal collection, each with the story behind it.
The Early Years
Hackleburg, the Loden Family and a call to serve in Korea.
1950s
Chet Atkins, Capitol Records and “Young Love.”
1960s & 70s
The Opry, network television and a historic run of hits.
1980s & Beyond
Life with Doris, lifelong friends and lasting honors.
The Band
The harmonies behind the hits, decade by decade.
May 6, 2007
The Country Music Hall of Fame medallion tribute.
Articles & stories
The book
By 1962, having been dropped by four record companies in four years, Sonny was without a contract for the first time in a decade — and fully aware his career might be over. What happened next would read as fiction if it weren’t true: from 1964 to 1972, through social upheaval and the British Invasion, one entertainer and his vocal band of brothers achieved hit status above all others.
Told by someone who was there every step of the way. Hardcover · 336 pages · Clovercroft Publishing