Joe Sun
Encyclopedia
James Joseph Paulsen is an American
country music
singer, songwriter of Danish
descent, known professionally as Joe Sun. Recording for the Ovation and Elektra Records
labels, Sun charted fourteen singles
on the Hot Country Songs
charts. His highest was his 1978 debut single, the #14 "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You
."
. He did various jobs, such as working as a DJ
at Radio
WMAD
in Madison, Wisconsin
and at a Key West, Florida
rock station and he spent two years with a computer
firm in Chicago. While in Madison, he sang with a variety of semi-pro bands, working under the name "Jack Daniels
". He acquired his style listening to southern music on country's 50,000 watt WSM
and rhythm and blue's WLAC
radio.
In 1972, he made his way to Nashville
, giving himself five years to "make it" as a musician. For a time, he ran a small graphics business called The Sun Shop, then took up independent record promotions, which led to signing with the Ovation record label towards the end of 1977.
Joe Sun made a debut of his first single on Ovation Records "Old Flames (Can't Hold A Candle To You)
" which was released in May 1978 and climbed steadily up the country charts, reaching the Top 20. Further hits followed on Ovation Records with "High And Dry" (1978), "On Business For The King" (1979), "Blue Ribbon Blues" (1979), "Out Of Your Mind" (1979/1980), "What I Had With You" (1980), "Shotgun Rider" (1980), "Bombed, Boozed, And Busted" (1980), and "Ready For the Times to Get Better
" (1980), an innovative re-make of Crystal Gayle
's 1978 #1 hit. By the time his third album, Livin' On Honky Tonk Time was released, the record company Ovation closed down. Joe signed with Elektra, who purchased Ovation in 1981. At that time he recorded "I Ain't Honky Tonkin' No More". The album Best of Joe Sun was released by Elektra.
Joe recorded "The Sun Never Sets" for Sonet in 1984, followed by "Twilight Zone" with Dixiefrog in 1986 and "Hank Bogart Still Lives" with Dixiefrog in 1989. This album was outsold in France
only by Randy Travis
. In 1991, Dixiefrog released "Out on the Road", after Sun's five-month European tour.
Sun's first solo album effort, the 1992 "Dixie and Me", on Austria
's Crazy Music made its debut. Its response prompted the 1994 CD release of Some Old Memories by the same record label.
An album and a video for Some Old Memories was released in 1994 by Crazy Music and was broadcast on SF1, a Swiss
television station and 3SAT, a German/Austrian/Swiss television station.
Joe Sun released the Heartbreak Saloon CD in 1998 with Dixiefrog. He wrote twelve of the fifteen songs on the album.
Sun has released 15 albums and has given performances in the United States and Europe. He has also recorded national radio spots for Budweiser
and Timberline Boots. Besides being featured on television shows, having produced two Grammy
-nominated foreign LPs in 1989 and 1990, Joe Sun has also acted as Tommy Fratter in the motion picture Marie, A True Story alongside Sissy Spacek
, Jeff Daniels
and Morgan Freeman
.
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, songwriter of Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
descent, known professionally as Joe Sun. Recording for the Ovation and Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
labels, Sun charted fourteen singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
charts. His highest was his 1978 debut single, the #14 "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You
Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You
"Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" was a country song written by Pebe Sebert and Hugh Moffatt. It provided a #14 U.S. country hit for Joe Sun in 1978, and a #86 hit for Brian Collins the same year. It was later covered by Dolly Parton, who took it to the top of the U.S. country charts in...
."
Biography
He spent his youth in college and then in the Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. He did various jobs, such as working as a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
at Radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
WMAD
WMAD
WMAD is a radio station serving the Madison, Wisconsin metropolitan area. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and has been running a country music format since December 23, 2005...
in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
and at a Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
rock station and he spent two years with a computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
firm in Chicago. While in Madison, he sang with a variety of semi-pro bands, working under the name "Jack Daniels
Jack Daniels
Jack Daniels may refer to:* Jack Daniel , founder of the whiskey company** Jack Daniel's, brand of whiskey* Jack Daniels , Major League Baseball outfielder...
". He acquired his style listening to southern music on country's 50,000 watt WSM
WSM (AM)
WSM is the callsign of a 50,000 watt AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. Operating at 650 kHz, its clear channel signal can reach much of North America and various countries, especially late at night...
and rhythm and blue's WLAC
WLAC
WLAC is a clear channel radio station based in Nashville, Tennessee, operating at 1510 kHz on the AM dial.-Early history:Its first broadcast took place on November 24, 1926. The call letters were chosen to contain an acronym for the first owner of the station, the Life and Casualty Insurance...
radio.
In 1972, he made his way to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, giving himself five years to "make it" as a musician. For a time, he ran a small graphics business called The Sun Shop, then took up independent record promotions, which led to signing with the Ovation record label towards the end of 1977.
Joe Sun made a debut of his first single on Ovation Records "Old Flames (Can't Hold A Candle To You)
Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You
"Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" was a country song written by Pebe Sebert and Hugh Moffatt. It provided a #14 U.S. country hit for Joe Sun in 1978, and a #86 hit for Brian Collins the same year. It was later covered by Dolly Parton, who took it to the top of the U.S. country charts in...
" which was released in May 1978 and climbed steadily up the country charts, reaching the Top 20. Further hits followed on Ovation Records with "High And Dry" (1978), "On Business For The King" (1979), "Blue Ribbon Blues" (1979), "Out Of Your Mind" (1979/1980), "What I Had With You" (1980), "Shotgun Rider" (1980), "Bombed, Boozed, And Busted" (1980), and "Ready For the Times to Get Better
Ready for the Times to Get Better
"Ready for the Times to Get Better" is a 1978 single written by Allen Reynolds and recorded by Crystal Gayle. "Ready for the Times to Get Better" was Gayle's fourth number one on the U.S Billboard Hot Country Singles chart...
" (1980), an innovative re-make of Crystal Gayle
Crystal Gayle
Crystal Gayle is an American country music singer best known for her 1977 country-pop hit, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". An award-winning singer, she accumulated 18 number one country hits during the 1970s and 1980s...
's 1978 #1 hit. By the time his third album, Livin' On Honky Tonk Time was released, the record company Ovation closed down. Joe signed with Elektra, who purchased Ovation in 1981. At that time he recorded "I Ain't Honky Tonkin' No More". The album Best of Joe Sun was released by Elektra.
Joe recorded "The Sun Never Sets" for Sonet in 1984, followed by "Twilight Zone" with Dixiefrog in 1986 and "Hank Bogart Still Lives" with Dixiefrog in 1989. This album was outsold in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
only by Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
. In 1991, Dixiefrog released "Out on the Road", after Sun's five-month European tour.
Sun's first solo album effort, the 1992 "Dixie and Me", on Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
's Crazy Music made its debut. Its response prompted the 1994 CD release of Some Old Memories by the same record label.
An album and a video for Some Old Memories was released in 1994 by Crazy Music and was broadcast on SF1, a Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
television station and 3SAT, a German/Austrian/Swiss television station.
Joe Sun released the Heartbreak Saloon CD in 1998 with Dixiefrog. He wrote twelve of the fifteen songs on the album.
Sun has released 15 albums and has given performances in the United States and Europe. He has also recorded national radio spots for Budweiser
Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch)
Budweiser is a 5.0% abv American-style lager introduced in 1876 by Adolphus Busch and one of the highest selling beers in the United States. It is made with up to 30% rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the world...
and Timberline Boots. Besides being featured on television shows, having produced two Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nominated foreign LPs in 1989 and 1990, Joe Sun has also acted as Tommy Fratter in the motion picture Marie, A True Story alongside Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek is an American actress and singer. She came to international prominence for her for role as Carrie White in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie for which she earned her first Academy Award nomination...
, Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
and Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
.
Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Old Flames | — | Ovation |
| 1979 | Out of Your Mind | 34 | |
| 1980 | Livin' on Honky Tonk Time | — | |
| 1981 | I Ain't Honky Tonkin' No More | 28 | Elektra |
| 1982 | The Best | — | |
| 1984 | Sun Never Sets | — | Sonet |
| 1988 | Twilight Zone | — | Dixie Frog |
| 1989 | Hank Bogart Still Lives | — | |
| 1994 | Some Old Memories 1988-1993 | — | |
| 1998 | Heartbreak Saloon | — | |
| 2006 | Dixie and Me | — | Crazy |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1978 | "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" was a country song written by Pebe Sebert and Hugh Moffatt. It provided a #14 U.S. country hit for Joe Sun in 1978, and a #86 hit for Brian Collins the same year. It was later covered by Dolly Parton, who took it to the top of the U.S. country charts in... " |
14 | — | 29 | Old Flames |
| "High and Dry" | 20 | — | 33 | ||
| 1979 | "On Business for the King" | 27 | — | — | |
| "Blue Ribbon Blues" | flip | — | 47 | ||
| "I'd Rather Go on Hurtin'" | 20 | — | 55 | Out of Your Mind | |
| "Out Of Your Mind" | 34 | — | 54 | ||
| 1980 | "Shotgun Rider" | 23 | 71 | 13 | |
| "Bombed, Boozed, and Busted" | 21 | — | 8 | Livin' on Honky Tonk Time | |
| "Ready for the Times to Get Better Ready for the Times to Get Better "Ready for the Times to Get Better" is a 1978 single written by Allen Reynolds and recorded by Crystal Gayle. "Ready for the Times to Get Better" was Gayle's fourth number one on the U.S Billboard Hot Country Singles chart... " |
43 | — | 19 | ||
| 1982 | "Holed Up in Some Honky Tonk" | 40 | — | — | I Ain't Honky Tonkin' No More |
| "Fraulein" (with Shotgun) | 57 | — | — | ||
| "You Make Me Want to Sing" | 85 | — | — | The Best | |
| 1984 | "Bad for Me" | 73 | — | — | Sun Never Sets |
| 1985 | "Why Would I Want to Forget" | 77 | — | — | single only |
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | ||||
| 1980 | "What I Had with You" | Shelia Andrews | 48 | single only |