His album includes duets with some of country and gospel music’s leading artists such as Vince Gill, The Isaacs, Dailey & Vincent, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites. Ben Isaacs served as his producer and it will be released via Gaither Music Group. “I am really excited about this album,” he said. “I am a big fan of Bill Gaither and The Isaacs, and I didn’t know if it would ever happen or not. I wanted Ben to produce it and he said ‘absolutely,’ and that was one of my dreams come true. We got together and talked about it, and started putting it together, and started recording it a little at a time. As we listened to the CD, we decided it was so good, we even did a DVD with it as well. I am very, very proud of it.”
While it was difficult for Fortune to select a favorite song on the album, he listed “Amazing Grace” as a stand-out track, since it features such artists as Vince Gill and Sonya Isaacs. “It has two of my favorite singers in the world, and it is one of my favorite songs too,” he said. “I was very moved and very thankful that I got the opportunity to do that.”
Fortune is motivated simply by making a living for his family. “I have seven kids and eight grandchildren, and I want to be able to leave them something one of these days. I want to leave them a legacy of love, and something that they can take and use with them in their lives, such as prayer and things that make a difference. God is always there to help us and pick us up,” he said.
He is a member of two Hall of Fames, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. “I still have to pinch myself, and say ‘wow.’ This is something that you don’t even think about,” he said.
For more information on Country Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Fortune and his new Hits & Hymns CD, check out his official website.
