Sonny Limbo

{{Infobox musical artist | background = person | honorific_prefix = | name = Sonny Limbo | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = Robert Ladale Limbaugh | alias = | birth_date =  | birth_place = | origin = United states | death_date = {{Death date and age|1992|12|27|1943|04|13}} | death_place = | genre = | occupation = Musician, composer, producer | instrument = | discography = | years_active =  | label = | current_member_of = | past_member_of = The Sonny Limbo Superband | spouse = Frances Mullins | partner =  | website =  | module = | module2 = | module3 = }}

'''Sonny Limbo''' was an American record producer, arranger and composer. His production credits include, "I Wanna Come Over" for Alabama, "Tell Me a Lie" for Sami Jo, and albums, ''Just Another Day in Paradise'' for Bertie Higgins and ''Live It Up!'' for Holly Woods. ==Background== His hit compositions include, "God Loves Us (When We All Sing Together)" by Sami Jo, "What If (I Said I Love You)" by Unipop, "Backstreet Ballet" by Savannah, and "Key Largo", "Just Another Day in Paradise", "When You Fall in Love" and "Homeless People" by Bertie Higgins.<ref>''MusicVF''.com - [https://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Sonny+Limbo&tab=songaswriterchartstab Songs written by Sonny Limbo, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography]</ref>

Together with Mickey Buckins, Limbo produced the self-titled album for Eddie Middleton who was discovered by A&R man, Steve Popovich. The album was recorded at Bill Lowery's Lowery Studio. It was released in 1977.<ref>Safe at Home Productions, Jan 28, 2018 - [https://www.safeathomeproductions.com/post/2017/12/16/tail-of-the-weak-250 Tail of the Weak 3.4]</ref>

He has played a role in the development of the careers of several artists, including the group Alabama.<ref>South Florida State College, Feb. 2, 2021 - [https://www.southflorida.edu/news/international-recording-artist-bertie-higgins-at-sfsc International Recording Artist Bertie Higgins at SFSC]</ref>

Limbo has also worked with Cissy Houston.<ref>American Songwriter - [https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-gladys-knight-the-pips-midnight-train-to-georgia/ Behind The Song: Gladys Knight & The Pips, “Midnight Train To Georgia” by Jim Weatherly By Jason Scott]</ref> ==Career== Working with Mickey Buckins, Limbo produced "Crystal Blue Persuasion" for the group, The Naturals, a Shout Records act. It was reviewed in the January 4, 1975, issue of ''Record World''. The magazine had it as a sleeper. The reviewer said that this particular recording seemed to be more resilient and persuasive than the original.<ref>''Record World'', January 4, 1975 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/75/RW-1975-01-04.pdf Page 1 HITS OF THE WEEK, SLEEPERS]</ref>

Working with Buckins, they produced "God Loves Us (When We All Sing Together)" for Sami Jo & Friends. The record made its debut at no. 96 in the ''Record World'' Country Singles Chart on the week of May 1, 1976.<ref>45Cat - [https://www.45cat.com/artist/sami-jo-and-friends Sami Jo And Friends - Discography]</ref><ref>''Record World'', May 22, 1976 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/Record-World-1976-05-22.pdf Page 52 RECORD WORLD COUNTRY SINGLES PUBLISHERS LIST, GOD LOVES (WHEN WE ALL SING TOGETHER) Sonny Limbo & Mickey Buckins ( Lowery, BMI) 79]</ref><ref>''Record World'', May 1, 1976 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/RW-1976-05-01.pdf Page 72 THE COUNTRY SINGLES CHART, MAY 1 96, APR. 24 -, WKS ON CHART 1]</ref> It peaked at no. 79 on the week of May 22 and held the position for another week.<ref>''Record World'', May 22, 1976 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/Record-World-1976-05-22.pdf Page 58 THE COUNTRY SINGLES CHART, May 22 79, May 15 82 WKS. ON CHART 4]</ref><ref>''Record World'', May 29, 1976 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/Record-World-1976-05-29.pdf Page 108 MAY 29 77, MAY 22, 77, WKS. ON CHART 5]</ref><ref>''Record World'', June 5, 1976 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/Record-World-1976-06-05.pdf Page 86 THE COUNTRY SINGLES CHART]</ref>

Limbo and Mickey Buckins produced the song "We Don't Live Here, We Just Love Here",<ref>Hideki Watanabe Archives - [http://hideki1997.stars.ne.jp/45produced-mickey-buckins.html GRT -AS BIG BEN ATKINS]</ref> which was composed by Buckins and copyright registered in October, 1977.<ref> Catalogue of Copyright Entries: ''Third Series'' Volume 31, Part 5, Number 2, Section 2<br>Music, Current and Renewal Registrations, July-December 1977 ISSN 0041-7866 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=1FAhAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22We+Don%27t+Live+Here,+We+Just+Love+Here%22Buckins&pg=PA2548 Page 2548 We don't live here (we just love here) w & m Mickey Buckins]</ref> It was recorded by Big Ben Atkins. In addition to Limbo's and Buckins' production roles, Nelson Larkin was the executive producer. The song was backed with a Mentor Williams & Dan Penn composition "Baby Blue Eyes". Tt was released as a single on GRT 161 in 1978.<ref>Hideki Watanabe Archives - [http://hideki1997.stars.ne.jp/45produced-mickey-buckins.html GRT -AS BIG BEN ATKINS]</ref> It would prove to be a success for Atkins that year.<ref>''Record World'', October 21, 1978 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/78/RW-1978-10-21.pdf Page 82 Red O'Donnell's Year in Review ''(Continued from page 68)'', MAY]</ref>

In 1980, Bertie Higgins moved to Atlanta. There he came into contact with Sonny Limbo. Limbo set up a meeting between Higgins and music publisher, Bill Lowery.<ref>South Florida State College, Feb. 2, 2021 - [https://www.southflorida.edu/news/international-recording-artist-bertie-higgins-at-sfsc International Recording Artist Bertie Higgins at SFSC]</ref> Limbo co-produced Bertie Higgins' ''Just Another Day In Paradise'' album which was released in 1982. He was also one of the engineers.<ref>Session Days - [https://www.sessiondays.com/2023/12/1982-bertie-higgins-just-another-day-in-paradise/ 1982 Bertie Higgins – Just Another Day In Paradise, Liner Notes]</ref> He co-wrote seven of the ten songs on the album.<ref>Session Days - [https://www.sessiondays.com/2023/12/1982-bertie-higgins-just-another-day-in-paradise/ 1982 Bertie Higgins – Just Another Day In Paradise, Tracks]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * Discogs - [https://www.discogs.com/artist/636622-Sonny-Limbo Sonny Limbo] * ''MusicVF''.com - [https://www.musicvf.com/songs.php?page=artist&artist=Sonny+Limbo&tab=songaswriterchartstab Songs written by Sonny Limbo, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography] * Find a Grave - [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157332772/robert-ladale-limbaugh Robert Ladale “Sonny Limbo” Limbaugh] * Garage Hangover - [https://garagehangover.com/the-bobbies-she-put-me-down-and-the-in-on-sonny-records/ THE BOBBIES “(SHE) PUT ME DOWN” AND THE IN ON SONNY RECORDS]

Category:American record producers Category:American songwriters Category:American male songwriters Category:1943 births Category:1992 deaths