Shelby Singleton
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2010) |
Shelby Singleton (December 16, 1931, Waskom, Texas – October 7, 2009, Nashville, Tennessee[1]) was an American record producer and record label owner.
Contents |
[edit] Early Life
He was born Shelby Sumpter Singleton, Jr. in Waskom, Texas. His parents were Shelby Sumpter Singleton, Sr. and Alvina Marcantel. As a youngster, living in Shreveport, Louisiana, Singleton was known as "Sonny Boy".
[edit] Career
Singleton joined the Marine Corps, and after his military discharge he was hired by the Shreveport, Louisiana branch of Mercury Records doing promotional work. He rose in the company until he was a record producer and executive. In 1960 he achieved first hit single, Brook Benton's recording of "The Boll Weevil Song", which became a #2 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the following year.[2] Singleton spent nine years at Mercury and its sister label Smash Records during which he was involved in producing many hit records, including "Walk On By", Leroy Van Dyke; "Ahab the Arab", Ray Stevens; "Wooden Heart", Joe Dowell; and producing acts such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Miller, Charlie Rich, Dave Dudley and Brook Benton.[3]
In 1962 Singleton bought the master recording of "Hey Paula" by Jill and Ray, originally released on LeCam Records. He changed the duo's names to Paul & Paula and issued the song on Mercury's newly acquired label, Philips. The song spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1966 Singleton resigned from Mercury and formed several music labels, including SSS International and Plantation Records,[3] achieving his first #1 hit in 1968 with "Harper Valley P.T.A." The following year he purchased Sun Records from Sam Phillips, including its rock and roll catalog. Singleton was on the nominating committee of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
[edit] Private life
He graduated from Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana at the age of 15. Two years later he married his first wife Margaret Ebey, who later rose in the country music scene as Margie Singleton. After 16 years of marriage they divorced. Singleton married three more times and had four children: Stephen, Sidney, Shana, and Stuart. Additionally, Singleton had several grandchildren including Shelby Sumpter Singleton, III. He married Barbara MacCollum right before achieving fame with the Harper Valley hit. Shortly after that they were divorced.
[edit] Death
Singleton resided in Nashville, where he died, aged 77, on October 7, 2009, following a battle with brain cancer. He had been admitted to St. Thomas Hospital a week earlier after suffering a seizure, according to his longtime friend and associate Jerry Kennedy.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Famed Record Producer, Label Executive Shelby Singleton Dies at Age 77, October 7, 2009
- ^ "Shelby Singleton, Jr.". rockabillyhalloffame.com. http://www.rockabillyhall.com/ShelbySingleton.html. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
- ^ a b Dead Rock Stars Club site - accessed October 2009
- ^ Shelby Singleton dies at 77; maverick country music mogul Randy Lewis, Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on October 9, 2009.
- Cooper, Daniel (1998). "Shelby Singleton". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 485.
