'Young Love' singer Sonny James dies at 87

Country singer Sonny James, who was known for his romantic ballads including "Young Love," died Monday of natural causes. He was 87.

James died at a hospice facility in Nashville where he had recently been hospitalized. He was surrounded by family and friends, according to a statement posted on his website.

"Throughout his life he has stood always at the ready to share a funny story," the statement said. "Accompanied by his boyish smile, this man of deep faith never failed to cultivate his unique gift of making every friend feel as if they were his greatest friend every step of the way.

"With immense admiration we say thanks to this dear and beloved friend to so many. No words exist to express our loss and sorrow at this time."

The singer born in Hackleburg, Alabama, was known as the "Southern Gentleman" because of his gentle, respectable demeanor. He was also a songwriter as well as a guitarist and fiddler.

James was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and was the first Nashville country artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He became one of the most successful country singers by the mid-'60s, with 16 No. 1 records from 1967 to 1971. That helped him earn the country artist of the decade award for 1965-1974 by Record World magazine.

His other hits included "It's the Little Things," "You're the Only World I Know" and "I'll Never Find Another You."

James rose to fame with his 1956 hit, "Young Love," which sold 3 million copies. It also hit No. 1 on the pop charts. "First Date, First Kiss, First Love" was a moderate pop hit a year later.

For the country field, he recorded several songs that had been pop hits earlier: "Since I Met You Baby," "Running Bear," "It's Just a Matter of Time," "Only the Lonely" and "Only Love Can Break a Heart."

In the 1960s, he made several motion pictures, including "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar," "Las Vegas Hillbillies" (with Jayne Mansfield) and "Hillbilly in a Haunted House" (with Basil Rathbone and Lon Chaney Jr.)

James also produced the first three albums for Marie Osmond. The first went gold in the U.S. and her first single, "Paper Roses," in 1973 also received certified gold recognition. Osmond was also nominated for a Grammy Award for the hit.

He retired in the mid-1980s.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.