Sonny James, the country singer known for the chart-topping song "Young Love" and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, died on Monday of natural causes at Nashville's Alive Hospice. He was 87 years old, according to a statement posted on his official website.
James, whose actual name was James Loden, was born in Hackleburg, Ala. and grew up playing music with his parents and sister, Thelma. James performed a lot of country shows with his family and already had several radio performances to his name by the time he reached high school, according to The Associated Press.
After taking some time off to serve in the military, he returned to the United States in 1952 and signed on with Capitol Records. James' career took off after his 1957 single, "Young Love," which sold 3 million copies and topped country and pop charts. Between 1967 and 1971, the musician delivered 16 consecutive chart-topping hits including songs like "Need You" and "Here Comes Honey Again," according to The Wrap.
His other hits included "It's the Little Things," "I'll Never Find Another You," "You're the Only World I Know" and "Empty Arms." James, who earned himself the nickname of "Southern Gentleman" also appeared in several music-themed motion pictures such as "Nashville Rebel," Las Vegas Hillbillies" and "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar," according to Rolling Stone.
James was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and went down in history as the first country singer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
