Fortune Announces 14th Annual Alaskan Cruise for July 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 20, 2017)
– Country Music Hall of Fame singer/songwriter Jimmy Fortune is gearing
up for his upcoming 2017 North American tour, which includes more than
40 stops (see dates below). The must-see tour is already underway, with
several standout appearances in 20 different states. Fans will also have
a chance to catch waves with Fortune later this year, as he appears on
the 14th Annual Jimmy Fortune Alaskan Cruise.
“This is my 14th year as a solo artist and I’ve been very blessed to
have also had a successful career with the Statler Brothers, and now
still being able to go to these great places and towns,” said Jimmy
Fortune. “Being able to say thank you to the fans is what I look forward
to the most. Signing autographs and hearing stories from fans after
each show is always a highlight.”
Since getting his start with the iconic Statler Brothers exactly 35
years ago singing tenor, the chart topper has transitioned from group
member to a successful solo artist. As a member of both the Country
Music Hall of Fame and Gospel Music Hall of Fame, along with penning No.
1 country hits such as “Elizabeth” and “Too Much On My Heart,” Fortune
has a history of captivating country and gospel music fans. The
award-winning singer looks to build upon that momentum on the
blockbuster tour, performing a combination of gospel standards, along
with some of the biggest Statler Brothers hits.
Fortune is kicking off the year on a high, after a huge 2016, which
saw the singer being awarded the “Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award” by the
Academy of Country Music with the Statler Brothers. Fortune was also the
recipient of his very first Dove award for “Bluegrass Recorded Song of
the Year,” along with the Oak Ridge Boys for their song “Life’s Railway
To Heaven” featured on Fortune’s critically acclaimed project Hits & Hymns.
The popular TV special, “Jimmy Fortune: Hits & Hymns” also helped
to propel Fortune to new heights, being featured on nationwide
television throughout the year.
Jimmy Fortune On Tour:
Jan. 20 – Marion, Ill. – Marion Cultural & Civic Center
Jan. 27 through Feb. 3 – Country Music Cruise
Feb. 7 – Lebanon, Tenn. – The Capital Theatre
Feb. 21 through Feb. 25 – Apache Junction, Ariz. – The Mining Camp Restaurant
Feb. 28 – Surprise, Ariz. – Happy Trails RV & Golf Resort
Mar. 10 – Columbia, S.C. – Private
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’s The 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, and “Hits and Hymns” CD and DVD through Gaither Music
Group in 2015. The DVD debuted at #1 on Billboard. Jimmy is currently
living in Nashville, writing, and touring.