Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

SINGLETON, Shelby

(b 16 Dec. '31, Waskom TX) Producer, publisher, label owner. Began in record promotion, worked with artists on Sheveport's Louisiana Hayride '50s; guided wife Margaret to country hits (Margie Singleton, b 5 Oct. '35, Coushatta LA; scored with "Eyes Of Love' '60, "Old Records' '63 as she moved through Starday, Mercury and "D' Records; splt with Shelby, teamed with Leon Asley on their Ashley label for duet hits '67-8). He worked for Mercury in NYC and Nashville, as product manager, then producer working with Brook Benton '60; on Smash subsidiary label with Bruce Channel ("Hey Baby', no. 1 '62), Jerry Lee Lewis, Roger Miller, Charlie Rich. Left and formed own SSS International '68, formed Plantation label, prod. Jeannie C. Riley's "Harper Valley PTA', sold five million copies in USA/Canada alone. This earned enough money to purchase Sun Records '69, a vault full of Rich, Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, much else. Shelby Singleton Music signed writers such as Ben Peters, Vivian Keith, Naomi Martin, Royce Clark.