Background
He was born Shelby Sumpter Singleton, Junior. in Waskom, Texas.
He was born Shelby Sumpter Singleton, Junior. in Waskom, Texas.
He graduated high school at 15 years old and went on to the Louisiana Business School.
As a youngster, living in Shreveport, Louisiana, Singleton was known as "Sonny Boy". Singleton joined the Marine Corps, and after his military discharge he was hired by the Shreveport, Louisiana branch of Mercury Records doing promotional work. He rose in the company until he was a record producer and executive.
In 1962, Singleton bought the master recording of "Hey Paula" by Jill and Ray, originally released on LeCam Records.
He changed the duo"s names to Paul & Paula and issued the song on Mercury"s sister Philips. The song spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
The following year, he purchased Sun Records from Sam Phillips, including its rock and roll catalog. Singleton was on the nominating committee of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Singleton was known to find talent in all parts of the country.
Foreign example, The Flatlanders were brought to his attention by freelance producer Royce Clark. In 1972 the Flatlanders traveled from Lubbock to Nashville to record with Clark for Singleton"s Plantation label. Singleton and Clark went on to work closely together in later years finding and recording undiscovered talent such as Ron Daisley and The County Fair from New York, among others, which Royce Clark produced for Singleton"s Plantation label.
Singleton graduated from Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana at the age of 15.
Singleton resided in Nashville, where he died, aged 77, on October 7, 2009, following a battle with brain cancer.