Biography
Born on September 1, 1933, in Harrisburg, AR, Joseph "Sonny" Deckelman built a career as a rockabilly performer. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at 17 and first explored singing and guitar during his posting in France; after returning stateside in 1954 he quickly became entrenched in the Memphis music community. Memphis ties failed to yield a contract, so in 1958 he tried relocating to California in hopes of advancing his prospects. Homesickness brought him back after only three months, at which point he assembled the Bop Kings. The following year he started his own Van-Deck label and issued the debut single "I've Got Love." Local success prompted the Jonesboro imprint to release the stronger follow-up "Born to Lose." No further vinyl appeared until 1961, when Van-Deck put out "Just One More Time." Three years passed before the self-released "Lonely Street" surfaced and received substantial Memphis airplay. Although rockabilly's commercial prospects had faded, Deckelman kept recording through the rest of the 1960s with little notice. Other Van-Deck releases included "I'll Be Alright," "Even the Bad Times Are Good," and a standout version of Charlie Rich's "Lonely Weekends." In the early '70s he also worked as a staff producer at Monument Records.