Sunny (song)

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"Sunny"

Single by Bobby Hebb
from the album Sunny
B-side(s)	"Bread"
Released	1966
Length	2:44
Label	Philips
Writer(s)	Bobby Hebb
Chart positions
#2 (U.S. Pop) #3 (U.S. R&B) #12 (UK)
Bobby Hebb singles chronology
	Sunny (1966)	A Satisfied Mind (1966)

"Sunny" is the name of a song written by Bobby Hebb. It is one of the most covered popular songs, with hundreds of versions released. BMI rates "Sunny" number 25 in its "Top 100 songs of the century".

Hebb wrote the song after suffering a double tragedy - a national loss followed by a personal one: On 23 November 1963, the day after US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Hebb's older brother Harold was killed in a knife fight outside a Nashville nightclub. Hebb was devastated by both events and sought comfort in songwriting. The song he wrote was the optimistic "Sunny":

"All my intentions were just to think of happier times – basically looking for a brighter day – because times were at a low tide. After I wrote it, I thought "Sunny" just might be a different approach to what Johnny Bragg was talking about in 'Just Walkin' in the Rain'".

"Sunny" was recorded in New York City and released as a single in 1966. It met an immediate success, which resulted in a tour with The Beatles for Hebb.

Many other artists have recorded their own versions of the song, including Georgie Fame and Cher (both of whom charted their versions in the UK in 1966), Frank Sinatra with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, the Electric Flag, The Four Seasons, the Four Tops, Wilson Pickett, Les McCann, Dusty Springfield, James Brown, Classics IV, Jose Feliciano, Johnny Mathis, Del Shannon, Buddy Richard, Leonard Nimoy, Marvin Gaye, Stanley Jordan and Twinset featuring Barnaby Weir. Another successful remake was released by Boney M in 1977. This version was sampled by the Boogie Pimps and used to create their 2004 hit "Sunny."