Song:I'll Leave This World Loving You
Album:16 Biggest Hits
Ricky Van Shelton had ten number one country hits in the late 80s-early 90s including I'll Leave This World Loving You in 1988. The last of these was in 1991. He did not adapt very well to changing musical trends and faded by the mid-90s. He retired in 2006. He was born Jan. 12, 1952 in Danville, VA and grew up in Grit, VA. His surname is Shelton. Van is his middle name. I thought maybe he was of Dutch descent but apparently not. I didn't know that and I have known about Shelton for years. He grew up singing in church and then performed in local clubs. He moved to Nashville in 1984 when future wife Bettye got a job there. In 1986, newspaper columnist Jerry Thompson heard Shelton's demo and became his manager. This led to an audition and a record deal with Columbia Records. Shelton had most of his success working with Columbia Nashville house producer Steve Buckingham. Buckingham worked with Dolly Parton for many years and is currently a VP at Sugar Hill Records. Shelton's 1987 debut album Wide-Eyed Dream topped the charts. His first number one single Somebody Lied was recorded by Conway Twitty in 1985. Shelton didn't write much so Buckingham was really good at finding songs for him. Life Turned Her That Way and Don't We All Have The Right were also number one hits from Wide-Eyed Dream. I'll Leave This World Loving You was the first single from the 1988 album Loving Proof and it topped the Country Singles chart. That song was written by Wayne Kemp and he recorded it in 1974. Kemp has had more success as a songwriter than a recording artist. Shelton's other number one hits from Loving Proof were a cover of the 1962 Ned Miller classic From A Jack To A King and Living Proof. From his 1989 album RVSIII, Shelton's only number one hit was I've Cried My Last Tear For You. He also recorded a Christmas album and wrote two children's books. I Am A Simple Man and Keep It Between The Lines were number one hits from his 1991 album Backroads. He also recorded the #1 duet Rockin' Years with Dolly Parton which was on her album Eagle When She Flies. All of Shelton's hits except Rockin' Years are on this budget comp. Then Shelton started to fade. He was a traditionalist and did not adapt well to rock music creeping into country with guys like Garth Brooks. Shelton also acknowledged alcoholism in 1992. Shelton left Columbia in 1994. He released an album on his own label through Vanguard Records in 1997 and recorded for Audium. He last recorded in 2000. Ricky Van Shelton retired in 2006. Here's the video for I'll Leave This World Loving You by Ricky Van Shelton.
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