Ricky Van Shelton
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| Ricky Van Shelton | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 12, 1952 |
| Origin | Gretna, Virginia, United States |
| Genre(s) | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, Guitar |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Label(s) | Columbia, Audium, RVS |
| Associated acts | Dolly Parton |
| Website | Ricky Van Shelton Official site |
Ricky Van Shelton (born January 12, 1952 in Danville, Virginia) is an American country music artist. Active since 1986, he has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts (including ten Number Ones). In addition, he has recorded more than ten studio albums.
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[edit] Biography
He was born at Danville Regional Medical Center in Danville, Virginia to Jenks and Eloise Shelton in 1952[1], but was raised in Gretna, Virginia. His middle name is Van, but many assume it is part of the common "Van xxxxx" surname. Shelton's father sang Gospel music while he was still a child, and from this Shelton also sang Gospel, but he also liked Pop music. He was soon in church, singing Gospel music. When he was a teenager, however, Shelton discovered Country music. He soon started singing in his brother's band, singing Country music, and performed at any local gathering he could. After he graduated high school, Shelton started performing in area clubs and also worked a series of jobs. In 1984, his girlfriend at the time (Bette) found a job in Nashville, Tennessee (the Country music capital), and Shelton went along with her.
Down in Nashville, Shelton tried to make it big in the Country music business, trying to land a deal with a recording contract. He made it by at this time, by working in nightclubs around the area. Eventually, one of his friends, who was a newspaper columnist by the name of Jerry Thompson heard one of Shelton's demos, and arranged an audition with Columbia Records, and he soon found himself with a recoridng contract under CBS in 1986, with Jerry Thompson as his manager. In 1986, Shelton was soon recording for his new-upcoming album, Wild-Eyed Dream. The title track was released as a single in 1986, and reached #24 on the Country charts that year.
[edit] Country music success in the late 80s & early 90s
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By 1987, Shelton released his debut album, Wild-Eyed Dream. The album ended up being very successful for Shelton and his record label. The next song from the album, "Crime of Passion" gained him an even bigger hit on the Country charts, when it reached the Top 10 early that year. The follow-up was an even bigger success. This next song was called "Somebody Lied", and in December 1987 it became his first No. 1 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Nine other songs would make it to No. 1 on the Country charts during his career. He had a pair of other No. 1 singles from his debut album: "Life Turned Her That Way" and "Don't We All Have the Right". His album reached the No. 1 spot on the Top Country Albums chart in 1987, was one of the biggest-selling Country albums of the year, and it made Shelton one of the most successful male vocalists of that year.
He achieved equal success the next year with a new album and a new single. The album was entitled Loving Proof, and it too was a No. 1 Billboard Country album. The album spawned three No. 1 hits for Shelton. These songs were, "I'll Leave This World Loving You" (for two weeks in November 1988), "From a Jack to a King" (in March 1989), and "Living Proof" (in October 1989). "From a Jack to a King" was a remake of the original by Ned Miller. By this time in Country music, Neo-Traditionalism was in its peak, and because of this, so was Shelton's career, just like so many of his counterparts, like Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, and Dwight Yoakam, to name a few.
His albums continued to win him praise and keep him high on the charts. His third album was no different. Titled Ricky Van Shelton III, this album spawned only one No. 1 single, called "I've Cried My Last Tear For You". Although this was his only No. 1 from the album, two singles came close, "Statue of a Fool" and "I Meant Every Word He Said", both of which reached #2 on the Country charts.
By now in his career, Shelton was one of Country music's most successful male vocalists, playing the game along with the other big male names in the business. All his albums around this time had been certified by the RIAA as Platinum, and were also all No. 1 albums on the "Top Country Albums" chart. In 1990, he recording a Christmas album entitled Ricky Van Shelton Sings Christmas. He also released a Gospel music album of all his Gospel material entitled Don't Overlook Salvation, which also sold quite well.
Around the same time, Shelton wrote a series of Children's books. The first two titles of his books were, Tales From a Duck Named Quacker and Quacker Meets Mrs. Moo.
Shelton continued his success as the decade began to progress. The next year, 1991, proved another successful year for Shelton. He duetted on the song, "Rockin' Years" with Dolly Parton (which also went to No. 1), as well as a new album, entitled, Backroads. The album featured his last No. 1 hits, along with a #13 hit called "After the Lights Go Out". His hit streak continued up until this year, and his album was just as successful as his songs.
By 1992, Shelton's success on the Country charts was tapering off, and fast. He enjoyed one last Top 10 hit (which actually reached #5) entitled "Wild Man", which was put on his newest album, called Greatest Hits, which had all his biggest hits since he first jumped into the Country spotlight in 1987. Another single, "Just As I Am," was featured on his Greatest Hits album, but it only made the Top 30 that year.
However, in 1992, Shelton was also battling another problem. He admitted to the public he was an alcoholic, and led to some serious problems in his personal life. However, he decided to get help, and soon enough, Shelton was sober.
By 1993, it was clear that Shelton was winding farther and farther away from the Top 10 on the Country charts. In 1994, he had his last Top 20 hit with "Where Was I". After 1994's Love and Honor album, Shelton decided to leave Columbia Records, saying he was fed up with label.
[edit] New horizons in the 90s & into the new millennium
After being under Columbia Records, Shelton was absent from the Country charts for a long period of time. However, Columbia continued to release Greatest Hits collections to the public. Shelton continued to work on other projects during this time, which didn't mean giving up performing.
In 1997, Shelton formed his own label entitled, RVS Records (which stands for his initials). That same year, he released his first album in three years entitled Making Plans. Shelton financed the project himself however, and worked out to release his album only to Wal-Mart stores.
In 2000, Shelton signed with the Audium label, where he made another album called Fried Green Tomatoes, which spawned his first single in over five years called "The Decision", but it failed to make a substantial impact on the Country charts.
Since May 1, 2006, Shelton has retired from touring.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | US Country | US 200 | RIAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Wild-Eyed Dream | 1 | 76 | Platinum |
| 1988 | Living Proof | 1 | 78 | Platinum |
| 1989 | Ricky Van Shelton Sings Christmas | 32 | - | Gold |
| 1990 | Ricky Van Shelton III | 1 | 53 | Platinum |
| 1991 | Backroads | 1 | 23 | Platinum |
| 1992 | Don't Overlook Salvation | - | 129 | Gold |
| 1992 | Greatest Hits Plus | 9 | 50 | Platinum |
| 1993 | Bridge I Didn't Burn | 17 | 91 | Gold |
| 1994 | Love and Honor | 62 | - | |
| 1995 | Super Hits | 64 | - | Gold |
| 2000 | Blue Christmas | 64 |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | US Country | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Wild-Eyed Dream" | 24 | Wild-Eyed Dream |
| 1987 | "Crime of Passion" | 7 | Wild-Eyed Dream |
| 1987 | "Somebody Lied" | 1 | Wild-Eyed Dream |
| 1987 | "Life Turned Her That Way" | 1 | Wild-Eyed Dream |
| 1988 | "Don't We All Have the Right" | 1 | Wild-Eyed Dream |
| 1988 | "I'll Leave This World Loving You" | 1 | Loving Proof |
| 1988 | "From a Jack to a King" | 1 | Loving Proof |
| 1989 | "Hole In My Pocket" | 4 | Loving Proof |
| 1989 | "Living Proof" | 1 | Loving Proof |
| 1989 | "Statue of a Fool" | 2 | Ricky Van Shelton III |
| 1990 | "I've Cried My Last Tear For You" | 1 | Ricky Van Shelton III |
| 1990 | "I Meant Every Word He Said" | 2 | Ricky Van Shelton III |
| 1990 | "Life's Little Ups and Downs" | 4 | Ricky Van Shelton III |
| 1991 | "Rockin' Years" (w/ Dolly Parton) | 1 | Backroads |
| 1991 | "I Am a Simple Man" | 1 | Backroads |
| 1991 | "Keep It Between the Lines" | 1 | Backroads |
| 1991 | "After the Lights Go Out" | 13 | Backroads |
| 1992 | "Backroads" | 2 | Backroads |
| 1992 | "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" | 26 | Greatest Hits Plus |
| 1992 | "Wild Man" | 5 | Greatest Hits Plus |
| 1993 | "Just As I Am" | 26 | Greatest Hits Plus |
| 1993 | "Still Got a Couple of Good Years Left" | 44 | A Bridge I Didn't Burn |
| 1994 | "Where Was I" | 20 | A Bridge I Didn't Burn |
| 1994 | "Wherever She Is" | 49 | Love and Honor |
| 2000 | "The Decision" | 71 | Fried Green Tomatoes |
