Shelby Singleton RIP

The Vinyl Word pays tribute to record producer Shelby Singleton who has died aged 77. Shelby produced or promoted many great records in the early 1960s while employed by Mercury records, including Walk On By, Running Bear, Chantilly Lace, Hey Paula, Joe Dowell's Wooden Heart, plus records by Jerry Lee Lewis, Brook Benton, Charlie Rich and Roger Miller. After leaving Mercury in 1966 he set up SSS International in Nashville where he produced some great soul sides by Johnny Adams (eg Release Me and Reconsider Me) and Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson (eg Soulshake). He also launched Plantation records and had a number one hit with Jeannie C Riley's Harper Valley PTA. In 1969 he bought the Sun Records catalogue and licensed it to Charly. If all that doesn't make him one of the all time great record producers I don't know what does.

Went to see Sherman Robertson last night at the 100 Club. Rather a thin crowd but it was a quality blues set as you would expect.