Jimmy Fortune
Jimmy Fortune | |
|---|---|
 Fortune (center) with Dailey & Vincent | |
| Background information | |
| Born | March 11, 1955 Williamsburg, Virginia |
| Origin | Nelson County, Virginia |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels |
|
| Formerly of | The Statler Brothers |
| Website | Official Website |
Jimmy Fortune (born March 11, 1955) is an American country music singer from Nelson County, Virginia. Fortune sang tenor for The Statler Brothers for 21 years, and wrote the song "Elizabeth" for the group.[1] Shortly after the Statler Brothers disbanded, he began to perform as a solo artist.
Fortune, commonly referred to as the Amish Elvis, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008 as a member of The Statler Brothers.
Biography
[edit]Fortune grew up in Nelson County, Virginia, where he attended Nelson County High School in Lovingston, Virginia.[2]
The original tenor of the Statler Brothers, Lew DeWitt, heard Fortune sing at a local ski resort. When DeWitt was suffering from Crohn's disease and needed a temporary replacement, he asked Fortune to come to audition for the band in Nashville. Fortune started performing with the Statler Brothers in 1982, originally as a temporary replacement for DeWitt. He joined the group permanently later in the year when DeWitt decided to quit the group due to his illness.[2]
Fortune wrote several number-one songs that were recorded by the Statler Brothers, including "Elizabeth", "Too Much on My Heart", and "My Only Love". "More Than a Name on a Wall" was a top ten country hit. "Elizabeth" recently was a top bluegrass release for Dailey & Vincent. He spent 21 years touring, singing, and performing with the Statler Brothers.
In 2002, after the Statlers disbanded, Fortune continued his career as a solo artist with an extensive performance schedule in the U.S. and Canada. He has continued as a songwriter and has recorded some projects in Nashville that he mostly produced himself. In 2015 he released Hits & Hymns produced by Ben Isaacs.[2] The album reached the Top Ten on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. The DVD release of a TV special, "Jimmy Fortune: Hits & Hymns," hosted by Bill Gaither, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Music Video chart.[1] In 2020, Fortune collaborated with Bradley Walker, Ben Isaacs, and Mike Rogers, and formed a group later named Brothers of the Heart.[3][4] They have released three albums to date: Brotherly Love (2020),[5] Listen To The Music (2023),[6] and Will The Circle Be Unbroken (2023).[7]
On July 8, 2023, a bronze statue of Fortune was unveiled in Nelson County, Virginia. Fortune attended the ceremony, where a statue of fellow Nelson County native Earl Hamner Jr. was also dedicated.[8]
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [9] |
US [10] |
US Christ [11] | |||
| When One Door Closes |
|
— | — | — | |
| I Believe |
|
— | — | — | |
| Feels Like Christmas |
|
— | — | — | |
| Windows |
|
— | — | — | |
| Lessons |
|
— | — | — | |
| Hits & Hymns |
|
10 | 156 | 6 | US: 42,800[12] |
| Sings the Classics[13] |
|
— | — | — | US: 13,400[14] |
| God & Country |
|
— | — | 11 |
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "What Money Can't Buy" | When One Door Closes |
| 2004 | "Elizabeth" |
Guest singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "God Bless the Children" (with Wayne Warner and the Nashville All-Star Choir)[16] | Turbo Twang'n | |
| 2013 | "Working on a Building" | Marty Raybon (with T. Graham Brown & Trace Adkins) | Working on a Building |
Music videos
[edit]| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Dare the World" (Various Artists) | John Lloyd Miller |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Beck, Ken (February 23, 2016). "Fortune smiles on Jimmy Fortune". The Wilson Post. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
- ^ a b c Yarborough, Chuck (October 16, 2015). "Statlers' Jimmy Fortune talks 'Hits & Hymns' with PD critic (and former classmate)". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
- ^ Woolum, Brandon (February 10, 2023). "A Conversation with Brothers of the Heart (Fortune, Walker, Rogers, Isaacs)". CCM Magazine. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ Evans Price, Deborah (September 18, 2020). "Jimmy Fortune, Ben Isaacs, Mike Rogers and Bradley Walker Deliver New Take on Statlers' Classic 'Elizabeth'". Sounds Like Nashville. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ Longs, Herb (September 3, 2020). "Jimmy Fortune, Bradley Walker, Mike Rogers & Ben Isaacs Release Gaither Music Group CD, DVD & TV Special". The Christian Beat.
- ^ "Music News: Brothers of the Heart to perform on The Opry Feb. 7; 'Listen To The Music' hits #1 on Billboard Christian album chart". Today Christian Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
- ^ "Brothers of the Heart To Release Third Album 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' on Nov. 3". 27 October 2023.
- ^ Shipley, Kaylee. "Nelson County unveils Earl Hamner Jr. and Jimmy Fortune statues". ABC13 News. Published July 9, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Jimmy Fortune Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums". Billboard.
- ^ "Jimmy Fortune Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard.
- ^ "Jimmy Fortune Album & Song Chart History - Christian Albums". Billboard.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 28, 2016). "Country Album Chart: March 29, 2016". Roughstock. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ Casey, Jim (March 20, 2017). "Jimmy Fortune "Sings the Classics" on New Album, Including "Unchained Melody," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Wake Up Little Susie" & More". Nash Country Daily. Archived from the original on April 23, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (April 30, 2018). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: April 30, 2018". Roughstock. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (October 7, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums: Pure Sales Chart for October 7, 2019". RoughStock. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ^ "Nashville All Star Choir". Wayne Warner. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- American country singer-songwriters
- American tenors
- 1955 births
- American people of Welsh descent
- Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
- Country musicians from Virginia
- Living people
- Members of the Country Music Association
- People from Nelson County, Virginia
- People from Staunton, Virginia
- People from Sumner County, Tennessee
- People from Williamsburg, Virginia
- Singer-songwriters from Tennessee
- Singer-songwriters from Virginia
- The Statler Brothers members