George Strait has up to 44 # 1 hits, which is the most in country music history up to date. However, they're not consecutive. That is one accomplishment Sonny James pulled between 1967 to 1971. which, is really something not that simple as it seems. Only very few country artist manages to get #1 hits one after another in consecutive order. What exactly does that mean? It means every single you come out with (one right after the other), all hit #1 without interruption (having a single come out that doesn't hit #1 in between). Even tho James 2nd # 1 hit, "You're the Only World I Know", came in almost 3 years before the start of his streak, It still marks a special time as the song reached its 50th anniversary since being #1 back in January 23, 1964.
Sonny actual name was James Hugh Loden however, Capitol Records (first recording company he signed into) requested for the name change so it was easy to remember, especially for children. He was born on May 1, 1929, and is currently retired in Nashville with his wife Doris (wife since 1957). His 1st #1 hit came in 1956, which is also the song he is most remembered for, "Young Love". Up until his retirement in 1983, James has scored 22 #1 hits with 16 streaks (starting from "Need You" to "Here Comes Honey Again"), and his last #1 was in 1974, "Is It Wrong (For Lovin' You)".
So, just how hard is it to make a streak of #1 hits? Best sum up this way, Blake Shelton started his music career in 2001. Up to this point, his record is only 12 in-in-a-row. That's almost 1 song per year up to 2015. Shelton has over 24 singles out. Think that's nothing? Earl Thomas Conley is tied with Sonny James for 16 streak in-a-row. Conley has over 30 singles charted between 1974 to 1992 (based on what made the chart). The only country music artist, or band actually, to have the most steak in-a-row, is Alabama, whom has 21 streaks. As mentioned earlier, George Strait has up to 44 # 1 hits, while Alabama only has 33. So if you think about it, Alabama is 21 streaks while having 33 #1 hits altogether, that means almost every single singles (hmm, that can get confusing really quick) the artist, or band, come out with, needs to hit #,1 one right after the other, in their, almost entire career. Which is something Strait has yet to accomplish in his over 30 years he's been in business. Great American Country (GAC) sums it up really good. "They reeled off 21 straight #1 singles, a record that will probably never be equaled in any genre."
James co-wrote "You're The Only World I Know" with Robert Tubert, also known as Bob Tubert. Tubert was one of the first original Nashville Songwriters Association (NSA) board member in 1968. He has also co-written other great songs such as, "Satin Pillow", also written with Sonny James, and "Ring Dang Doo", co-written with Joy Byers. He is best known as being a producer for many, many different artist. Tubert currently has a book out, My Life With the Stars, The Real Story About MusicCity.
Sonny became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1962, and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame (inducted in 2007, same year as George Strait). There is a dispute that it was Alabama, "Christmas In Dixie", from 1982, was the song to surpass James streak. However, in those days, christmas songs weren't really counted when it came to chart-topping singles. Instead, it was declared that Alababma, "Fourty Hour Week (For a Livin')", is what surpassed the streak in 1985. Which is a major year difference. So, here to you Sonny James, and a congratulation to "You're the Only World I Know" for reaching 50 years since seeing that #1 spot. I bid you farewell.
Resource
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_James
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_the_Only_World_I_Know
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Hot_Country_Songs_chart_achievements
- http://www.secondhandsongs.com/artist/23507
- http://nemahaia.com/wp-bookstore/2014/03/01/life-with-the-stars-by-bob-tubert/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Thomas_Conley_discography
- http://www.gactv.com/gac/ar_az_alabama/article/0,,GAC_26145_4706268,00.html
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