Bobby Hebb is an African American singer and songwriter, best known for his 1966 recording of "Sunny".

Hebb's parents, William and Ovalla Hebb, were both blind musicians. Hebb and his older brother Harold performed as a song-and-dance team in Nashville, beginning when Bobby was 3 and Harold was 9. Hebb performed on a TV show hosted by country music record producer Owen Bradley , which earned him a place with Grand Ole Opry star Roy Acuff. Hebb played spoons and other instruments in Acuff's band. Harold later became a member of the Johnny Bragg and the Marigolds . Bobby Hebb sang backup on Bo Diddley's "Diddley Daddy". Hebb played "West-coast-style" trumpet in a US Navy jazz band, and replaced Mickey Baker in Mickey and Sylvia .

On 23 November 1963, the day after John F. Kennedy's assassination, Harold Hebb 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, which resulted in a tour with The Beatles for 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".

"Sunny" has been recorded by Boney M, Cher, Georgie Fame, Frank Sinatra with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Frankie Valli, the Four Tops, Wilson Pickett, and Dusty Springfield. One cover, a disco version called "Sunny '76" was a hit for Hebb in that year.

Although "Sunny" is considered a one-hit wonder, Hebb also had hits with his "A Satisfied Mind" in 1966 and "Love Me" in 1967, and has written many other songs.

External links

• All Music Guide biography

"I played spoons on "Diddley Daddy" and the singers were The Moonglows" Bobby Hebb said to Joe Viglione on Sunday, April 17, 2005 4:08 PM via telephone. I read Bobby the entry in Wikipedia.

In response to how "Sunny" was composed Bobby said: "Sunny" is your disposition - the disposition that an individual decides to take is their decision. I suppose that this is where the ethics come in, if you want to make a positive or a negative decision.

To calm one's nerves and to be a little balanced and steady in their mental coordination one has to think about both the negative and the positive side of life. I chose the brighter side. However, the rain will fall, no matter where you are. Even while the sun is shining, but that only means the grass is getting ready to grow and the trees will get greener. The birds will soon come out and sing. The sun will come from behind the clouds and create a tremendous smile."