Percy Sledge
I only saw Percy Sledge once – by accident. I was in New Orleans attending a trade show for employer, responsible for setting our trade show booth and administering our company’s participation in the show.
I was taking a walk around downtown New Orleans strolling along Woldenberg Park which borders the Mississippi River. A small group of people were huddled around a musician who was singing and accompanied by a guitar player.
Lo and behold, it was the great Percy Sledge! This was sometime in the mid 1990s I believe. I am not sure why Percy was playing apparently as a street musician. He could have been employed by the city as an attraction to the downtown area.
I do recall that he sang “Take Time to Know Her”. Percy’s delivery was soulful and unique. “When a Man Loves a Woman” was a great song, especially with that tremendous instrumental crescendo build up as the song progresses.
Percy Sledge was born Percy Tyrone Sledge on November 25th, 1940 in Leighton, Alabama. In the 1960s Percy would appear with a group called the Esquires Combo while holding down a job in a Sheffield hospital. A patient who Percy met while at the hospital would introduce Sledge to record producer Quin Ivy which resulted in a recording contract.
According to Wikipedia, Percy’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” was Atlantic Records’ first certified million seller which is very surprising if true.
Percy Sledge Accolades
Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award – 1989
Alabama Music Hall of Fame – 1993
Blues Music Award for LP “Blue Night” – 1996
Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame – 2004
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 2005
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame – 2007
Delta Music Museum
National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame – 2021
Leighton, Alabama Annual “Sledgefest” Event – 2022
Percy Sledge News Timeline
May 28th, 1966 – The Buffalo News
June 12th, 1966 – The Macon Telegraph
April 16th, 1967 – Alexandria News Leader
July 30th, 1968 – The Asbury Park Press
August 8th, 1968 – The Vicksburg Post
February 22nd, 1969 – The Johnson City Press
April 12th, 1969 – The Atlanta Journal
Percy Sledge passed away on April 14th, 2015.
Percy Sledge Discography
April 1966 – “When a Man Loves a Woman” – #1 US – #1 R&B – #4 UK
July 1966 – “Warm & Tender Love” – #5 R&B – #17 Pop – #34 UK
October 1966 – “It Tears Me Up” – #7 R&B – #20 Pop
February 1967 – “Baby, Help Me” – #44 R&B – #87 Pop
February 1967 – Hip Pocket Flexi – “When a Man Loves a Woman
April 1967 – “Out of Left Field” – #25 R&B – #59 Pop
June 1967 – “Love Me Tender” – #35 R&B – #40 Pop
July 1967 – “What Am I Living For” – #91 Pop
September 1967 – “Just Out of Reach (On My Two Empty Arms) – #66 Pop
November 1967 – “Cover Me” – #39 R&B – #42 Pop
January 1968 – EP – “When a Man Loves a Woman”
January 1968 – EP – “Take Time to Know Her”
March 1958 – “Take Time to Know Her” – #6 R&B – #11 Pop
August 1968 – “Sudden Stop” – #41 R&B – #63 Pop
October 1968 – “You’re All Around Me” – #109 Bubbling Under
February 1969 – “My Special Prayer” – #44 R&B – #93 Pop
April 1969 – “Any Day Now” – #35 R&B – #86 Pop
May 1969 – “The Angels Listened In” – #126 Bubbling Under
August 1969 – “Kind Woman” – #116 Bubbling Under
August 1973 – “Sunshine” – #89 R&B
October 1974 – “I’ll Be Your Everything” – #15 R&B – #62 Pop
February 1987 – “When a Man Loves a Woman – #2 UK
LP – April 1966 – “When a Man Loves a Woman” #37
LP – November 1966 – “Warm and Tender Love” #135
LP – August 1967 – “The Percy Sledge Way” – #178
LP – Maay 1968 – “Take Time to Know Her” – #148
LP – “The Best of Percy Sledge” – #133
LP – January 1975 – “I’ll Be Your Everything”
LP – 1983 – “Percy!”
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