Soul legend Percy Sledge worked in the fields in his hometown of Leighton before he secured a job working as an orderly at Colbert County Hospital in Sheffield, which led to his introduction of Producer Quin Ivy. By the mid-60s, Sledge was touring the Southeast with the Esquires Combo on weekends and working at the hospital. A former patient, who was a friend of Ivy, introduced the two, an audition followed and Sledge was signed to a recording contract. Sledge's smooth stirring voice was perfect for the series of soul ballads produced by Ivy and Marlin Greene, which rock critic Dave Marsh called "emotional classics for romantics of all ages". "When A Man Loves A Woman" was the first song recorded, and it became not only an international hit, but was also the first gold record released by Atlantic Records. The magnificent soul anthem became the cornerstone of Sledge's career and was followed by "Warm And Tender Love", "Take Time To Know Her", and "Cover Me." Sledge charted with "I'll Be Your Everything" and "Sunshine" during the 70s, and has become an international concert favorite throughout the world, especially in Holland, Germany and on the African continent.