A man and his ‘woman’

Churchy organ music eases through the speakers, slow and rich, setting the tone for one of the most righteous vocals ever recorded. The lyric is direct, honest and unsentimental. The man singing is clearly in love, but not blinded by love. He knows the price and is willing to pay it — even if that means losing his best friend, sleeping out in the rain or being played for a fool.

Forty-one years after it first seduced listeners, Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" still sounds relevant and holy, like a timeless gospel hymn. It's a song that has become the soundtrack to a million beautiful memories.

"So many people from all over the world, every nationality, tell me how much the song means to them," Sledge says. "It's a very wonderful thing. I think God blessed me. Growing up, it was the greatest thing that could have ever possibly happened to me."

"When a Man Loves a Woman" came out on Atlantic Records in 1966 and topped both the Billboard Black and Pop Singles charts. Country soul music infused with Sunday-morning organ and simmering horns had poured from Alabama since the early 1960s. But it took Sledge's pleading vocal about the woman for whom he'd "spend his very last dime" to push the subgenre into the mainstream. In the years that followed, Aretha Franklin's version of "Respect" (1967) and Otis Redding's posthumously released "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (1968) would also reach No. 1 on the Pop Singles survey.

Interestingly, "When a Man Loves a Woman" was not just Sledge's biggest hit, but also his debut single. Prior to launching his music career, Sledge honed his skills as an orderly at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, Ala. "I would sing to the patients," he says with a laugh. "They loved it. I came back and visited [after becoming a star] and the doctors and everyone were real happy for me."

Sledge had carried the melody to "When a Man Loves a Woman" with him since his days of picking cotton in the fields around his hometown of Leighton, Ala. Chances are, it came to him during the many hours he spent as a youngster listening to country musicians like Hank Williams on the only radio station his household received. The romantic classic, now played at weddings across the globe, originated as a break-up ballad called "Why Did You Leave Me, Baby?"

"But then I gave it better, stronger lyrics," Sledge says from his home in Baton Rouge, La. He says he gave the songwriting credit to his bandmates, bassist Cameron Lewis and keyboardist Andrew Wright. "I didn't know anything back then," he says. "I was dumb and green and just thought about what a great favor I was doing."

Sledge did not collect royalties when Michael Bolton recorded "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1991, taking it to the top of the charts for a second time. Bolton also won a Grammy for his cover version, despite reaping critical scorn. In fact, the press corps grilled Bolton backstage at the ceremony, reportedly prompting the singer to tell them to kiss his ass. But Sledge has no beef with Bolton.

"I think it was great," says the 65-year-old singer. "He is one of my favorite singers. His version is very much like how I do it live."

Go figure.

Sledge's recording of "When a Man Loves a Woman" has been used in numerous movies and advertising campaigns over the years, netting him only "a small royalty." But the singer isn't bitter — even though a proper songwriting credit would have earned him millions of dollars. "I've done really good in my career," Sledge says. "My fans never let me down; they always show up to see me."

He pauses and then adds: "I feel bad only because of my children [he has 12]. That money should be theirs."

Although Sledge never matched "When a Man Loves a Woman" in terms of sales, he did put together a respectable string of hits from 1966 to 1974. His readings of "The Dark End of the Street," "Just out of Reach (Of My Empty Arms)" and the Elvis Presley hit "Love Me Tender" all feature the same distinct charm as "When a Man Loves a Woman." The CD Ultimate Collection: When a Man Loves a Woman (Atlantic) includes those three recordings and 17 more, making it an excellent primer for Sledge neophytes.

In 1994, Sledge mounted a comeback attempt with the album Shining in the Rain, which proved the golden-voiced singer had aged remarkably well, especially on the ebullient title track. Rolling Stone gave the album a 3 1/2 star review, noting that Sledge could "still locate the emotional essence of a song, as he did so unforgettably on 'When a Man Loves a Woman,' his 1966 debut single."

Sledge found himself stuck in an Atlanta airport a couple years ago when he got a phone call from his wife notifying him that he would finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "It was unbelievable," he says. "It came as a shock. I knew one day, maybe. But I wasn't expecting it."

Rod Stewart inducted him; Richard Gere congratulated him; and Bruce Springsteen sat his table. And, yes, he performed "When a Man Loves a Woman."

"It was fabulous," Sledge says. "Just wonderful."

Check out the schedule.

This article appears in May 2-8, 2007.