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 (Results 76-100 of 105 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
(Results 76-100 of 105 records)

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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