Jimmy Fortune
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Fortune is an American
country music
singer. He hails from Lovingston, Virginia
.
for the Statler Brothers for 21 years. He joined them as a replacement for the ailing Lew DeWitt
in 1982 and joined the group permanently when DeWitt was unable to return to the stage. Fortune wrote several number one songs that were recorded by the Statler Brothers
, including Elizabeth, Too Much on My Heart
, My Only Love
, and More Than a Name on a Wall
. "Elizabeth" recently was a top bluegrass release for Dailey & Vincent
. He spent 21 years touring, singing, and performing with them until Don, Harold and Phil, the other three members of the group retired in 2002. Since then he has continued an extensive performance schedule in the U.S. and Canada, and just completed hosting the Fortune-Williams Music Festival with Robin and Linda Williams. He has continued as a songwriter and has sung background for a number of projects in Nashville in addition to his own releases. He is mareried to Nina for 19 years who he credits onstage with keeping his professional life in some kind of order. The personable Fortune has a loyal cadre of fans, some dating to the Statler era and many developed since many of who style themselves as "Fortune Hunters."
He has lost none of his crystal clear and remarkable high tenor range but has extended it to a creditable baritone as well now that he is a solo act. He has extensive family ties to his native Virginia and performs in the region frequently, as well as close to his new Tennessee home, and has been traveling widdely this past year including forays into Canada. Fortune has recorded four solo albums. He currently lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee
not far from Nashville.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer. He hails from Lovingston, Virginia
Lovingston, Virginia
Lovingston is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Nelson County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 520. Its ZIP Code is 22949...
.
Biography
Fortune sang tenorTenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
for the Statler Brothers for 21 years. He joined them as a replacement for the ailing Lew DeWitt
Lew DeWitt
Lewis Calvin "Lew" DeWitt was an American country music singer and composer.For most of his career DeWitt sang tenor for The Statler Brothers...
in 1982 and joined the group permanently when DeWitt was unable to return to the stage. Fortune wrote several number one songs that were recorded by the Statler Brothers
Statler Brothers
The Statler Brothers were an American country music vocal group founded in 1955 in Staunton, Virginia.Originally performing gospel music at local churches, the group billed themselves as The Four Star Quartet, and later The Kingsmen...
, including Elizabeth, Too Much on My Heart
Too Much on My Heart
"Too Much on My Heart" is a 1985 single by The Statler Brothers. "Too Much on My Heart" was written by Jimmy Fortune and would become The Statler Brothers' last of four number ones on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the...
, My Only Love
My Only Love (song)
"My Only Love" is a single by American country music group The Statler Brothers. Released in November 1984, it was the third and final single from their 1984 album, Atlanta Blue. The song reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in March 1985.-Chart performance:...
, and More Than a Name on a Wall
More Than a Name on a Wall
"More Than a Name on a Wall" is a single by American country music group The Statler Brothers. It was released in April 1989 as the third single from their Greatest Hits album. The song peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart....
. "Elizabeth" recently was a top bluegrass release for Dailey & Vincent
Dailey & Vincent
Dailey & Vincent is an American bluegrass music group composed of Jamie Dailey Darrin Vincent , Christian Davis , Joe Dean, Jr. , Jeff Parker and BJ Cherryholmes . Former fiddle player Jesse Stockman left the band in early August 2011 due to a wrist injury...
. He spent 21 years touring, singing, and performing with them until Don, Harold and Phil, the other three members of the group retired in 2002. Since then he has continued an extensive performance schedule in the U.S. and Canada, and just completed hosting the Fortune-Williams Music Festival with Robin and Linda Williams. He has continued as a songwriter and has sung background for a number of projects in Nashville in addition to his own releases. He is mareried to Nina for 19 years who he credits onstage with keeping his professional life in some kind of order. The personable Fortune has a loyal cadre of fans, some dating to the Statler era and many developed since many of who style themselves as "Fortune Hunters."
He has lost none of his crystal clear and remarkable high tenor range but has extended it to a creditable baritone as well now that he is a solo act. He has extensive family ties to his native Virginia and performs in the region frequently, as well as close to his new Tennessee home, and has been traveling widdely this past year including forays into Canada. Fortune has recorded four solo albums. He currently lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Hendersonville is a city in Sumner County, Tennessee, United States, on Old Hickory Lake. The population was 51,372 at the 2010 census. Hendersonville is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located 18 miles northeast of downtown Nashville. The city was settled around 1784 by...
not far from Nashville.
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | When One Door Closes | Audium |
| 2005 | I Believe | Sound Garden |
| 2007 | Feels Like Christmas | Fortune 4 |
| 2009 | Windows | Fortune Enterprises |
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "What Money Can't Buy" | When One Door Closes |
| 2004 | "Elizabeth" |