Percy Tyrone Sledge was born to a poor
family in rural Leighton, AL, on November 25, 1940. As a child, he
picked cotton, sang in a church choir, and listened to country music,
the only music available on his local radio station. He first
performed at the age of 15 as a member of an a cappella vocal
group.
He was working as a hospital orderly,
while performing in local clubs with the Esquires Combo, when a
patient heard him singing “Why Did You Leave Me, Baby?” in the
hallways. He wrote the song after his girlfriend left town to pursue
a modeling career. The patient brought him to the attention of
record producer Quin Ivy. At Ivy's direction, the song was rewritten
with the help of bassist Calvin Lewis and organist Andrew Wright of
the Esquires, and retitled “When a Man Loves a Woman.” It was
recorded at Muscle Shoals studio with Spooner Oldham's organ chording
slowly in the background. The record was picked up by Atlantic
Records, who signed him to a contract. It reached #1 on both the pop
and R&B charts.
Here he is singing his signature tune about ten years ago.
For reasons that are unclear, the
songwriting credits went only to Lewis and Wright. Sledge says he
“gave” them the song, a decision which he later regretted. It
cost him a considerable amount in royalties, since the song appeared
on several film soundtracks and reached the top of the charts again
in 1991 through a cover version by Michael Bolton.
Worst decision I ever made. But I am not at all bitter. It was God's will for me to
give it to them. But if I had my time again, I wouldn't do it.
Because of my children.
Eight of his other single records made
the R&B charts between 1966 and 1974, including “Warm and
Tender Love,” “It Tears Me Up,” and “Take Time to Know Her.”
He also released four fine studio albums on Atlantic. Many of his
album cuts were covers of Southern soul classics. A 4-CD collection
of his Atlantic recordings was released on Rhino and is highly
recommended if you can find it.
Percy Sledge continued to perform
around the world and to record intermittently for almost 50 years.
His 1994 CD, Blue Night, on the Sky Ranch label, was nominated
for a Grammy award in the contemporary blues category. His 2004
Varese-Sarabande album, Shining Through the Rain, was also
well-received. His final CD was a collection of gospel songs
released in 2013.
Percy Sledge was inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. He is also a member of the Alabama
Music Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, and received
a Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award. “When a Man Loves a
Woman” was ranked 53rd on Rolling Stone's list of
the 500 greatest records of all time.
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