“Sunny”

Bobby Hebb

Robert (“Bobby”) Von Hebb
Born July 26, 1938 – Died August 3, 2010
American Singer Songwriter

Bobby Hebb – “Sunny”

Bobby Hebb wrote the song in the 48 hours following a double tragedy on November 22, 1963, the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and Hebb’s older brother Harold was stabbed to death outside a Nashville nightclub.

Hebb was devastated by both events and many critics say that those events inspired the lyrics & tune.

According to Hebb, he merely wrote the song as an expression of a preference for a “sunny” disposition over a “lousy” disposition following the murder of his brother.

All my intentions were to think of happier times & pay tribute to my brother – basically looking for a brighter day – because times were at a low.

Bobby Hebb – Note

“Sunny” has been recorded by many artists.

These include Jamiroquai, Cher, Boney M, Georgie Fame, Johnny Rivers, Oscar Peterson, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Electric Flag, The Four Seasons, Leonard Nimoy, two different versions from Frankie Valli, the Four Tops, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Les McCann, Wes Montgomery, Dusty Springfield, and Classics IV.