James Richard Hollingsworth was born October 22, 1928, in Huntsville, to Giles and Laura Hollingsworth. He passed from this life in the early morning hours of Monday, May 14, 2018, in Florence. He was married to Faye Draper from Coxy, Alabama in 1952. They were blessed with two sons, Greg and Tony, and a daughter, Shari.
Richard was the first son to be born into a family of four girls and seven boys. Richard grew up knowing what hard work was like on farms around Huntsville and Madison County.
While in high school, he decided to become a minister of the Gospel, and in 1950, Richard began his preaching career. He graduated from Freed-Hardeman College and went on to David Lipscomb. He spent many years preaching in Michigan, Indiana, and in several places in North Alabama.
Richard was preceded in death by his son, Gregory; his mother and father, and his brother, Glen. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Faye Draper Hollingsworth; son Tony, a daughter Shari, and two grandsons, Jake (Florence) and Nicholas (Liz) Hollingsworth, Hoove; a sister-in-law, Ruby Draper Robbins (John), Florence.
He is also survived by his sisters, Delores Pedersen (Pete), Sierra Vista, Arizona; Lois Morgan (Herman, dec.), Huntsville; Norma Goodwin (Gene, dec.), Pleasant Grove; and Reatha Jerome Waters (John), Martinsville, Indiana.
His brothers are Giles “Buddy” (Helen), Roswell,Georgia; Bobby Paquita), Miami, Florida; David (Dianece), Florence; Wayne, Roseburg, Oregon; Winston, Pinson, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Richard was a lover of music, having written songs for his good friend, Sonny James, and other artists who published some of his songs. Although he was not a very well known country music personality, he did enjoy a fair amount of success with his song writing. He wrote at least a dozen songs recorded by Sonny James. He also wrote songs recorded by George Morgan, Anthony Armstrong Jones and Jerry Lee Lewis.
His first song was recorded by Sonny James in about 1955. “Lovin’ Season” was one of his more successful songs that received a good amount of success and recognition. Richard, together with his brother, Giles (Buddy) wrote “Red Mud,” released by Sonny James in 1959, which became one of the brothers’ more well-known songs.
Richard had a radio program on WFUN in Huntsville during 1949-1950, during which he sang solos, and was accompanied by the Hornbuckle Brothers doing duets. His brother Giles sang duets with Richard on the show from time to time.
Richard was also a businessman, having partnered with Dr. Glen Sockwell in the retail music business known as Sound City Tape and Music Center on Woodward Avenue in Muscle Shoals in the 60’s and 70’s. There he met and became friends with many ultimately famous up-and-coming artists who had come to town to record music, and always made a point of stopping off at Sound City for various reasons. He was also instrumental in organizing The Country Music Association in Muscle Shoals during the late 1960’s, and was a good friend of the late Rick Hall of Fame Studios.
