Artist Biography
Rockabilly cat Joseph "Sonny" Deckelman was born September 1, 1933, in Harrisburg, AR. After entering the U.S. Air Force at 17, he began singing and playing guitar while stationed in France, and upon returning stateside in 1954 became a fixture of the Memphis music scene. Despite his Memphis connections a record deal was not forthcoming, and in 1958 Deckelman even relocated to California to jump-start his career. Homesick, he returned three months later, soon forming his own band, the Bop Kings. Finally, in 1959 Deckelman founded his own Van-Deck label to release his debut single, "I've Got Love." The record was a local hit and the Jonesboro imprint agreed to release its superior follow-up, "Born to Lose." He did not resurface on vinyl until 1961, issuing "Just One More Time" on Van-Deck. The self-released "Lonely Street" did not follow for three years, but earned significant airplay in the Memphis area. Despite rockabilly's diminished commercial appeal, Deckelman continued recording in relative obscurity for the remainder of the 1960s. His other Van-Deck efforts include "I'll Be Alright," "Even the Bad Times Are Good," and an excellent cover of Charlie Rich's "Lonely Weekends." During the early '70s, he also served as a staff producer at Monument Records. ~ Jason Ankeny
Hometown
Harrisburg, AR, United States
Genre
Rock