Shelby Singleton

Shelby Singleton (born Shelby Sumpter Singleton, Jr., 16 December 1931, Waskom, Texas) is an American record producer and record label owner.

Career

He 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. [cite web
url=http://www.rockabillyhall.com/ShelbySingleton.html
title=Shelby Singleton, Jr.
publisher=rockabillyhalloffame.com
accessdate=2007-07-17] 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. In 1962 Singleton bought the master recording of "Hey Paula" by Jill and Jay, originally released on LeCam Records. He changed the duo's names to Paul and 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, 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 classic rock and roll catalog.

Singleton is on the nominating committee of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Private life

He graduated from Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana at 15. Two years later he married his first wife married 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. He has four children; Stephen, Sidney, Shana, and Stuart. Stephen, Sidney, and Shana all have their own children as well. Stephen has Shelby the 3rd and Scarlett. Sidney has Stefanie and Sofia, identical twins. Shana has Drake and Emersyn, fraternal twins. Singleton and his family reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

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