THIS EVENT MAY BE POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS. SEE THE LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Jimmy Fortune toured, sang and performed with the legendary Statler Brothers for 21 years. He joined them first as a temporary replacement for Lew DeWitt, after DeWitt heard him singing at a ski resort and recommended him. Following an audition in Nashville, Jimmy was contacted by the Statler Brothers and performed his first show with them on January 28, 1982, in Savannah, Georgia. Due to the debilitating effects of Crohnâs Disease, Lew was unable to return to the stage with the Statlers, andJimmy was hired as a permanent replacement in August of 1982.
Fortune quickly lived up to his name. He wrote the groupâs second No. 1 hit, âElizabeth,â on their 1983 album Today, and followed that with two more No. 1 hitsââMy Only Loveâ (from 1984âs Atlanta Blue) and âToo Much On My Heartâ (from 1985âs Pardners in Rhyme). Fortune also wrote the top-10 hit âForeverâ from 1986âs Four for the Show and co-wrote the top-10 hit âMore Than a Name on the Wallâ from 1988âs The Greatest Hits.
Jimmy has performed in all of the U.S. States, in Canadian Provinces, and in front of audiences as large as 100,000. He was part of the Statlersâ annual Happy Birthday USA celebration in Staunton, Virginia, for 14 years. He also sang on many of the Statlersâ gold, platinum, and double platinum recordings. Jimmyâs career included The Nashville Networkâs popular âThe Statler Brothers Showâ which aired for seven seasons and debuted in 1991 as the highest rated show for the network. Jimmy was privileged to perform at the White House on two occasions, once for President Ronald Reagan, and once for President George H. W. Bush. He also presented a special gift to actress Elizabeth Taylor by singing his song âElizabethâ to her for a birthday celebration.
Jimmy and The Statler Brothers were inducted into the GMA (Gospel Music Association) Hall of Fame on October 29, 2007, and inducted into the CMA (Country Music Association) Hall of Fame in June 29, 2008.
After the Statler Brothers retired on October 26, 2002, Jimmy seized the opportunity to launch a solo career to share new music with his fans. His first solo CD, When One Door Closes, was released August 2003 on Audium/Koch. He released a gospel album, I Believe, in June 2005, a Christmas CD, Feels Like Christmas, in 2006, a live concert DVD in 2007 a country CD, âWindowsâ in 2009, âLessonsâ in 2012, and âHits and Hymnsâ CD and DVD through Spring House Productions in 2015. Jimmy is currently living in Nashville, writing, and touring
More info: Harvester