Statler Brother Singer Jimmy Fortune 'Sings the Classics' on Upcoming Album Set

By Timothy Yap Mar 20, 2017 05:26 PM EDT

Jimmy Fortune, a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee and member of the legendary Statler Brothers, has just completed an all-new recording, Jimmy Fortune: Sings the Classics. The album, which will be available April 21, features collaborations with longtime friends Ricky Skaggs, The Isaacs and the Voices of Lee. The Gaither Music Group project will be available at music retailers everywhere, along with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations nationwide. Fans can also pre-order the album HERE.

"This project is very special and dear to my heart," said Jimmy Fortune. "A lot of hard work and thought went into picking each song, songs that shaped my life. I love them all and I think anyone who hears it will feel the same way."

Known for his unmistakable tenor voice that has captivated audiences since his 21-year tenure with The Statler Brothers, Fortune puts a new twist on some of his old favorites on the upcoming album. Jimmy Fortune: Sings the Classics features 14 new studio recordings of classic songs that have all left their mark in music history.

Standout tracks on the project include the classic Hank Cochran-penned "Make the World Go Away," which has been recorded over the years by some of music's greatest voices including Ray Price, Eddy Arnold and Donny & Marie Osmond. Another highlight is the country classic "Take Me Home, Country Roads," which is one of the most well-known songs in the history of the genre. Paying homage to his Statler Brothers' heritage, the project also features a new recording of the signature Grammy® Award-winning hit "Flowers on the Wall," a tune which Fortune knows well, as it was the first major hit for the iconic quartet.

The past year has been a career-defining time for Fortune, who was honored by the Academy of Country Music at the 10th Annual ACM Honors with the "Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award" for his incredible contribution to country music, along with each member of The Statler Brothers. The Gospel Music Hall of Fame hit maker also received his first GMA Dove Award for "Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year" for the track "Life's Railway to Heaven" featuring The Oak Ridge Boys and found on his previous critically-acclaimed album, Hits & Hymns(Gaither Music Group). The ACM Award-winner will be hitting the road in 2017 in support of the upcoming album, with a 40-plus city tour where fans can hear him sing No. 1 Statler Brothers' hits such as "Elizabeth," gospel favorites, and classics featured on his upcoming album. Fans who want an up-close and personal experience can set sail with Fortune on the 14th Annual Jimmy Fortune Alaskan Cruise, set for departure this July.

Jimmy Fortune: Sings the Classics will be featured as part of a special television offer on DISH TV, DIRECTV, Gaither Television Network, TBN, RFD-TV, FamilyNet, CTN, GMC, GMTN, Guardian, Liberty, TCT and TLN. It will air in Canada on Vision TV, CTS, The Miracle Channel, and Hope TV.

The recording will be exclusively distributed by Capitol Christian Distribution and Universal Music. It will be available throughout general market stores and the Christian marketplace and through online retailers including iTunes, Amazon, Walmart.com, [crackerbarrel.com]crackerbarrel.com and www.gaither.com.

For further information regarding Jimmy Fortune, visitwww.jimmyfortune.com or followwww.facebook.com/jimmyfortune.

Jimmy Fortune: Sings the Classics Track Listing:
1. Make the World Go Away
2. Take Me Home, Country Roads
3. Danny's Song
4. Wake Up Little Susie (feat. Ricky Skaggs)
5. Unchained Melody
6. Take It to the Limit (feat. The Isaacs)
7. Crazy Arms
8. Flowers on the Wall
9. If
10. Wildfire
11. Annie's Song
12. Yesterday
13. Southern Nights
14. Bridge Over Troubled Waters (feat. Voices of Lee)

Jimmy Fortune On Tour:
Mar. 24 - Rocky Mount, Va. - Harvester Performance Center
Mar. 25 - Lovingston, Va. - Nelson County High School
Apr. 4 - Leesburg, Fla.- Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center
Apr. 7 - Corsicana, Texas - The Palace Theatre
Apr. 8 - Arlington, Texas - Arlington Music Hall
Apr. 22 - Hegins, Pa. - Tri Valley JR-SR High School
May 2 - Branson, Mo. - Starlite Theatre
May 7 - Elkins, W.Va. - American Mountain Theatre
May 19 and 20 - Scottsburg, Ind. - Ross Country Jamboree
May 26 and 27 - Gatlinburg, Tenn. - Gaither Family Fest
June 10 - Steelville, Mo. - The Meramec Music Theatre
June 25 - Confirmed TBA
July 1 - Hiawassee, Ga. - Anderson Music Hall
July 4 - Radford, Va. - Radford 4th of July Celebration
July 16 through July 23 - Alaska - Jimmy Fortune Alaskan Cruise
July 29 - Benton, Ky. - Kentucky Opry
Aug. 15 - Lewisburg, W.Va. - WV State Fair
Sept. 2 - Lancaster, Pa. - American Music Theatre
Sept. 4 - Paden City, W.Va. - Paden City Labor Day Celebration
Sept. 9 - McLeansboro, Ill. - McLeansboro Fall Festival
Sept. 14 - Bremen, Ga. - Mill Town Music Hall
Sep. 18 - Lawrenceville, Ga. - Gwinnett County Fair
Sept. 21 - Branson, Mo. - Starlite Theatre
Sept. 23 - Prairie du Sac, Wisc. - River Arts Center
Oct. 6 - South Boston, Va. - Halifax County Fair
Oct. 7 - Manteo, N.C. - Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival
Oct. 15 - Pigeon Forge, Tenn. - Country Tonite Theatre
Oct. 17 and 18 - Branson, Mo. - Starlite Theatre
Nov. 11 and 12 - Branson, Mo. - Starlite Theatre
Dec. 2 - York, Pa. - York Expo Center
Dec. 3 - Lebanon, Pa. - Lebanon Expo Center
Dec. 7 - Weyers Cave, Va. - Weyers Cave Community Center
Dec. 8 - Amherst, Va. - Clifford Baptist Church
Dec. 9 - Liberty, N.C. - The Liberty Showcase Theater
More dates pending

About Jimmy Fortune:
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 Crohn's Disease, Lew was unable to return to the stage with the Statlers, and Jimmy was hired as a permanent replacement in August of 1982.

Fortune quickly lived up to his name. He wrote the group's second No. 1 hit, "Elizabeth," on their 1983 album Today, and followed that with two more No. 1 hits -"My Only Love" (from 1984's Atlanta Blue) and "Too Much on My Heart" (from 1985's Pardners In Rhyme). Fortune also wrote the Top-10 hit "Forever" from 1986's Four for the Show and co-wrote the top-10 hit "More Than a Name on a Wall" from 1988'sThe Greatest Hits.

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 on 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, Windows in 2009, Lessons in 2012, andHits & Hymns CD and DVD through Gaither Music Group in 2015. The DVD debuted at #1 on the Billboard sales chart. Jimmy is currently living in Nashville, writing, and touring.