Sonny Sanders

William Nelson "Sonny" Sanders (August 6, 1939 – October 12, 2016) was an American soul music singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer.

Born in Chicago, Sanders made his first recording in 1955, on "Tears of Love" / "Roxanna" by Sax Kari and the Qualtones. He formed the Satintones in Detroit in 1957, with Robert Bateman, James Ellis and Sammy Mack. They became the first vocal group signed to Motown, and released their first record, "Going to the Hop" / "Motor City" in 1960. Sanders also worked as a backing singer at Motown, on such records as Marv Johnson's "You Got What It Takes" and Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)"; and as an arranger.

After the Satintones disbanded, Sanders left Motown in the early 1960s, but continued to work as an arranger on records including the Reflections "Just Like Romeo and Juliet". In 1965 he was recruited to work with record producer Carl Davis in Chicago, and arranged songs for Mary Wells, Edwin Starr's "Agent Double-O-Soul", and Jackie Wilson’s "Higher and Higher", and "I Get the Sweetest Feeling". Other artists with whom he worked, notably at Brunswick Records, included Gene Chandler, the Chi-Lites, and Tyrone Davis.

With Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites, he co-wrote Barbara Acklin's "Am I the Same Girl", the backing track of which later became "Soulful Strut" credited to Young-Holt Unlimited; and, with Wilson Pickett and former Satintones bandmate Robert Bateman, he co-wrote "If You Need Me", first recorded by Pickett and also a chart hit for Solomon Burke; it was later recorded by the Rolling Stones. Sanders also worked with Bateman's nephew, Jeffree (singer of the Steppers classic "Love's Gonna Last") on Jackie Wilson's "Beautiful Day" album. In the 1970s, he worked with Chubby and the Turnpikes, who later became Tavares; and the band Manchild, who included the musician Babyface. In 1998 Sanders and Carl Davis produced Eugene Record's last album, Let Him In. He also set up a gospel music publishing company, Joy Over One.

Sanders died in Detroit during the fall of 2016. He was 77.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 6, 1939 (Chicago), Died October 12, 2016

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1966 - 1970

Roles Represented in DAHR: arranger, leader

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 117708 7/21/1966 Love grows bitter Billy Butler arranger  
Decca 117709 7/20/1966 Sweet darling Billy Butler arranger  
Decca 117710 7/20/1966 Help yourself Billy Butler arranger  
Decca 117711 7/20/1966 If you need somebody Billy Butler arranger  
Decca 117993 10/10/1966 I don't want to lose you Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 117994 10/10/1966 I can do better Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 117995 10/10/1966 Those heartaches Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 117996 10/10/1966 My heart is calling Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 117997 10/10/1966 Just be sincere Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 117998 10/10/1966 Who am I? Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 117999 10/10/1966 I've lost you Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 118000 10/10/1966 I've gotta talk to you Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 118001 10/10/1966 Only your love can save me Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 118279 11/25/1966 Wrapped, tied and tangled LaVern Baker arranger, leader  
Decca 118280 11/25/1966 Nothing like being in love LaVern Baker arranger, leader  
Decca 118453 1/10/1967 What now my love Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 118454 1/10/1967 To choose Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 118455 1/10/1967 The girl don't care Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 118624 2/8/1967 Day dream-1 Louis Armstrong arranger  
Decca 118625 2/8/1967 Step down brother, next case Louis Armstrong arranger  
Decca 118626 2/8/1967 Louis' dream Louis Armstrong arranger  
Decca 118627 2/8/1967 Northern Boulevard blues Louis Armstrong arranger  
Decca 118745 3/16/1967 Come on over to my side Billy Butler arranger  
Decca 118746 3/16/1967 I can't wait (for your love) Billy Butler arranger  
Decca 119061 June 1967 [Unknown title(s)] Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 119062 June 1967 There goes the lover Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 119063 June 1967 Tell me what I can do Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 119064 June 1967 [Unknown title(s)] Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 119161 7/6/1967 (Your love keeps lifting me) Higher and higher Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119162 7/5/1967 Somebody up there likes you Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119163 7/6/1967 I'm the one to do it Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119453 9/15/1967 The who who song Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119454 9/15/1967 You can count on me Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119455 9/15/1967 Since you showed me how to be happy-1 Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119456 9/15/1967 Honey babe Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119457 9/18/1967 Soulville Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119458 9/18/1967 I don't need you around Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119459 9/20/1967 When will our day come Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119460 9/20/1967 I need your loving Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119461 9/20/1967 Open the door to your heart Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 119788 1/10/1968 Love won't start-1 Barbara Acklin ; Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 119789 1/10/1968 Baby it's you Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 119790 1/10/1968 Show me the way to go-1 Barbara Acklin ; Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120130 3/25/1968 From the teacher to the preacher-1 Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120131 3/25/1968 Love makes a woman Barbara Acklin arranger  
Decca 120132 3/25/1968 Anywhere but nowhere-1 Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120133 3/25/1968 Come and see my baby Barbara Acklin arranger  
Decca 120405 5/23/1968 You brought about a change in me Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 120406 5/23/1968 Nothing but blue skies Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 120407 5/23/1968 Growin' tall Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 120408 5/23/1968 I get the sweetest feeling Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 120409 5/23/1968 A woman needs to be loved Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 120438 June 1968 Never give you up Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120439 June 1968 Never give you up Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120440 June 1968 Blind heart Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120441 June 1968 Since you've been gone Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120442 June 1968 Laughter to tears Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120443 June 1968 Cowboys to girls Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120444 June 1968 Teacher, teacher Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120445 June 1968 Fooling around Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120446 June 1968 Lonely avenue Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120447 June 1968 Pit of loneliness Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120496 July 1968 Those were the good old days Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120497 July 1968 [Unknown title(s)] Gene Chandler arranger  
Decca 120983 December 1968 Give it away The Chi-Lites arranger  
Decca 120984 December 1968 What do I wish for? The Chi-Lites arranger  
Decca 121067 1/14/1969 Power of my love The Chi-Lites arranger  
Decca 121068 1/14/1969 To change my love The Chi-Lites arranger  
Decca 121069 1/14/1969 You're no longer part of my heart The Chi-Lites arranger  
Decca 121116 1/4/1969 I still love you Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121117 1/4/1969 Hum de dum de do Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121118 2/4/1969 Gotta find me a lover (24 hours a day)-1 Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121119 2/4/1969 Change my thoughts from you-2 Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121150 2/7/1969 Son-of-a-preacher man-1 Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121151 2/7/1969 Light my fire Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121164 2/12/1969 By the time I get to Phoenix Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121254 March 1969 I'm gonna make you love me The Chi-Lites arranger  
Decca 121320 3/14/1969 Hold on, I'm comin' Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121321 3/14/1969 Baby I love you Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121400 3/19/1969 Saving my love for you-4 Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121401 3/19/1969 Can't see my way-3 Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121402 3/19/1969 You've been cancelled- 2, 3 Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121403 3/19/1969 For once in my life- 1, 2, 3 Erma Franklin arranger  
Decca 121883 1969 Who you really are? Fred Hughes arranger  
Decca 121884 1969 Baby boy Fred Hughes arranger  
Decca 121977 Hold on, I'm comin' Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121978 [Unknown title(s)] Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121979 [Unknown title(s)] Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121980 Light my fire Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121982 8/12/1969 With these hands Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121983 8/12/1969 That lucky old sun (Just rolls around heaven all day)-1 Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121984 8/12/1969 This bitter earth Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121985 8/12/1969 Eleanor Rigby Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121989 8/12/1969 To change my love Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 121990 8/12/1969 This guy's in love with you Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 122336 Don't let this happens to us-1 Fred Hughes arranger  
Decca 122337 In my time of need-1 Fred Hughes arranger  
Decca 122338 1969 I understand-1 Fred Hughes arranger  
Decca 122364 January 1970 What's it gonna be Barbara Acklin arranger, leader  
Decca 122365 January 1970 He's just a little guy Barbara Acklin arranger, leader  
Decca 122366 January 1970 Is it me? Barbara Acklin arranger, leader  
Decca 122367 January 1970 You've been in love too long Barbara Acklin arranger, leader  
Decca 122511 2/26/1970 Let this be a letter (to my baby) Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 122512 2/26/1970 Didn't I Jackie Wilson arranger  
Decca 122513 Think about the good times Jackie Wilson arranger  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Sanders, Sonny," accessed November 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/209060.

Sanders, Sonny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/209060.

"Sanders, Sonny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/209060

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