Introduction
Jimmy Fortune (born March 11, 1955) is an American country music singer from Nelson County, Virginia. Fortune sang tenor for The Statler Brothers for 21 years, and wrote the song "Elizabeth" for the group. After The Statler Brothers retired, he continues to perform as a solo artist.
Biography
Fortune grew up in Nelson County, Virginia, where he attended Nelson County High School in Lovingston, Virginia.
The original tenor of the Statler Brothers, Lew DeWitt, heard Fortune sing at a local ski resort.When DeWitt was suffering from Crohn's disease and needed a temporary replacement, he asked Fortune to come to audition for the band in Nashville.Fortune started performing with the Statler Brothers in 1982, and joined the group permanently later in the year 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", and "My Only Love". "More Than a Name on a Wall" was a top ten country hit. "Elizabeth" recently was a top bluegrass release for Dailey & Vincent. He spent 21 years touring, singing, and performing with the Statler Brothers.
In 2002, Don, Harold and Phil of the Statler Brothers retired. Fortune began to perform as a solo artist with an extensive performance schedule in the U.S. and Canada. He has continued as a songwriter and has recorded a number of projects in Nashville that he mostly produced himself. In 2015 he released Hits & Hymns produced by Ben Isaacs.The album reached Top Ten on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, and the DVD release of a TV special, "Jimmy Fortune: Hits & Hymns," hosted by Bill Gaither, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Music Video chart.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US |
US Christ | |||
| When One Door Closes |
|
— | — | — | |
| I Believe |
|
— | — | — | |
| Feels Like Christmas |
|
— | — | — | |
| Windows |
|
— | — | — | |
| Lessons |
|
— | — | — | |
| Hits & Hymns |
|
10 | 156 | 6 | US: 42,800 |
| Sings the Classics |
|
— | — | — | US: 13,400 |
| God & Country |
|
— | — | 11 |
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "What Money Can't Buy" | When One Door Closes |
| 2004 | "Elizabeth" |
Guest singles
| Year | Single | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "God Bless the Children" (with Wayne Warner and the Nashville All-Star Choir) | Turbo Twang'n | |
| 2013 | "Working on a Building" | Marty Raybon (with T. Graham Brown & Trace Adkins) | Working on a Building |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Dare the World" | John Lloyd Miller |