Percy Sledge
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Describe as The "deep soul" genre with his slow, gospel-styled delivery. One of a very few links between country and soul music; A powerful vocalist and genuine performer who brings the conviction of blues to soul; created some of the most heartbreaking love songs in the history of rock and roll; and an interpretive stylist who can find soul in nearly any genre, Percy Sledge is an American R&B and soul performer. An artist whose most famous record "When a Man Loves a Woman." the one with which he is most associated, was the first he ever recorded.
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About
Percy Sledge was born on November 25, 1940 in Leighton, Alabama. As a child he helped his family with farming chores. He was working as a hospital orderly when he began playing clubs. In the mid-'60s singer Percy was performing throughout Mississippi and Alabama as a member of the "Esquires Combo". Percy spent the years following high school working as an orderly at Colbert County Hospital in nearby Sheffield. There, a former patient introduced him to local producer Quin Ivy; with the encouragement of Ivy and assistance from promoter Phil Walden, He went solo in 1966.
His career took a dramatic turn for the better in 1966, when he quit to go solo and scored a #1 pop and R&B hit with his debut single, "When a Man Loves a Woman." The classic single, which was the first soul recording to reach Number One on the pop charts, became his most successful release. The song was a hit again in 1987, sung by Top 40 singer Michael Bolton which again soared to the top of the charts.
His successes included "Warm and Tender Love" which chartered #17 on the U.S. Pop Singles Chart and #5 in the U.S. R&B Singles Chart in 1966, "Out of Left Field" which landed at #25 in the U.S. R&B Singles Chartin and "Take Time to Know Her" which peaked at #11 in the U.S. Pop Singles Chart, and #6 U.S. R&B in 1968. His success condinued in the '70s, save for a brief resurgence with the R&B hits "Sunshine" andd "I'll Be Your Everything" which chartered at #14 at the U.S R&B Singles Chart.
His success catapulted him onto a world stage. Major concert tours helped spark record sales and bring new audiences to Sledge's tunes and no-holds-barred vocal delivery.
The revival of Percy's performing career began in 1987. The use of "When a Man Loves a Woman" in the 1987 hit film Platoon sparked a big comeback for Percy. In that same year, the song was also re-released as a single overseas and reached Number Two on Billboard magazine's Hits of the World chart. He received further recognition in 1987 by performing on the NBC television program Saturday Night Live.
In 1989 Percy became the first recipient of the R&B Foundation's Career Achievement Award. He continues to perform, playing over 100 dates a year. In the early 90's, Percy signed recording contract under Poinblank label. Many years passed before his next new album, Blue Night since the early 1970s was released in 1994. A major concert tour throughout Europe was scheduled to coincide with Blue Night's release, but plans were changed when Percy pleaded guilty to charges of tax evasion that summer. He was sentenced to five years' probation afer being convicted of tax evasion. In March 14, 2005, Percy is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the twentieth annual induction dinner.
Chart Toppers
News
Tours & Concerts
There are no current tour and concert schedules for Percy Sledge.
Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | When A Man Loves A Woman | Phantom |
Compilations & Live Releases
| Date | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | The Best of Percy Sledge | Atlantic |
| 1972 | Star Collection | Wea |
| 1973 | Star Collection 2 | Wea |
| 1974 | Golden Voice of Soul | Atlantic |
| 1987 | Greatest Hits: When A Man Loves A Woman | Hollywood |
| 1987 | Percy! | Charly |
| 1987 | Ultimate Collection | Atlantic |
| 1989 | His Top Hits | Everest |
| 1991 | 20 Greatest Hits | Huub |
| 1992 | Heart and Soul of Percy Sledge | Castle |
| 1993 | Greatest Hits | Prestige |
| 1994 | Percy Sledge | Platinum Pop |
| 1994 | Percy Sledge/The Drifters/Dobie Gray | Gusto |
| 1995 | Percy Sledge Collection | Wesgram |
| 1995 | Greatest Hits | Prime Cuts |
| 1995 | Country | King |
| 1995 | Greatest Hits | Excelsior |
| 1995 | Greatest Hits: When A Man Loves A Woman | Excelsior |
| 1995 | When A Man Loves A Woman | Excelsior |
| 1996 | The Best of Percy Sledge | Curb |
| 1997 | Golden Hits | Intercontinental |
| 1997 | Golden Hits | Galaxy |
| 1998 | Very Best of Percy Sledge | Rhino |
| 1998 | 24 Greatest Hits | TeeVee |
| 1998 | Sweet Soul Hits | TNC |
| 1998 | Walking in The Sun | Mastertone |
| 1999 | Warm & Tender Love | Magnum |
| 1999 | Greatest Hits | Wagram |
| 1999 | When A Man Loves A Woman | Koch |
| 2000 | When A Man Loves A Woman | Columbia River |
| 2000 | Golden Legends | Direct Source |
| 2000 | When A Man Loves A Woman | Golgr |
| 2000 | Best of Percy Sledge | Mastersong |
| 2001 | Forever Gold | St. Clair |
| 2001 | Love Ballads | K-Box |
| 2001 | Signature Series | Direct Source |
| 2001 | Star Power: Percy Sledge | Direct Source |
| 2001 | The Best of Percy Sledge | Direct Source |
| 2001 | All Time Greatest Hits | Stardust |
| 2001 | Behind Closed Doors | Town Sound |
| 2001 | Percy Sledge | Platinum Disc |
| 2001 | The Soulful Sound of Percy Sledge | D.V. More |
| 2001 | When A Man Loves A Woman | King |
| 2002 | When A Man Loves A Woman | Laserlight |
| 2002 | A Collection of 20 Hits | Double Play |
| 2002 | Warm and Tender | Brentwood |
| 2002 | Percy Sledge | Hallmark |
| 2002 | Greatest Hits | King |
| 2002 | The Essentials | Warner Strategic |
| 2003 | The Best of Percy Sledge | Forever Gold |
| 2003 | When A Man Loves A Woman and Other Hits | Rhino Flashback |
| 2003 | A Man in Love | Newsound 2000 |
| 2003 | Soul Sensations | Pegasus |
| 2004 | 20 Best of Percy Sledge | Madacy |
| 2004 | Back 2 Back | Masters |
| 2004 | The Platinum Collection | Direct Source |
| 2004 | Percy Sledge and Sam & Dave | Platinum Disc |
| 2004 | The Best of Percy Sledge | Essentials |
| 2005 | Grandes Exitos, Vol.1 | Amer |
| 2005 | Grandes Exitos, Vol.2 | Amer |
| 2005 | The Soul Troubadours | Fuel 2000 |
| 2005 | Very Best of Percy Sledge | Joan |
| 2005 | Percy Sledge | Direct Source |
| 2005 | Greatest Hits | Zyx |
| 2005 | Simply The Best | Disky |
| 2005 | The Hit Songs of Percy Sledge | Curb |
| 2006 | Golden Legends:Percy Sledge | Madacy |
| 2006 | Great | Goldies |
| 2006 | The Collection | Musicmania |
| 2006 | Golden Hits | Creative Sounds |
| 2006 | Best of Percy Sledge | Direct Source |
| 2006 | 18 Greatest | Direct Source |
| 2006 | When A Man Loves a Woman/Take Time To Know Her | Direct Source |
| 2006 | Platinum Collection | Platinum |
| 2006 | The Percy Sledge Way/ Take Time To Know Her | DBK Works |
| 2007 | Best of Percy Sledge:Platinum Artist Series | St. Clair |
| 2007 | Best of Percy Sledge | MCP Et |
| 2007 | The Ultimate Performance: When A Man Loves A Woman | Cleopatra |
| 2007 | Atlantic 60th Platinum | Wea |
| 2007 | The Platinum Collection | Warner Platinum |
| 2007 | Legendary Icons | Black Label |
| 2007 | Orange Range | DA |
Other artists
Similar artists
Contemporaries
Trivia
- Singer/songwriter Robin Gibb wrote the lyrics to the song I've Gotta Get a Message to You, with Sledge in mind, however, Robin, and his brothers, The Bee Gees recorded the song, and rode it all the way to #1 on the U.S., and U.K. charts in 1968.
- Lee Atwater, a Republican political strategist who worked for Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush and was Karl Rove's mentor, briefly played backup guitar for Percy Sledge during the 1960's.
Reviews
External Links
Categories: Artist | R&B
