In his sultry, husky soulful voice, 69-year-old Percy Sledge brought the audience to its feet several times during a 90-minute concert at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on Saturday evening.

At the beginning of the show, when he announced he was going "to show some of my moves," with a twist of his hips, the crowd applauded and yelled enthusiastically.

Immediately following the show Sledge joined his many fans in the lobby and sat for the next two hours signing autographs and talking to them.

He signed photos, albums, t-shirts, hats, even a 45 RPM record. Sledge only had around 55 CD's with him and they were immediately sold.

Following the show, Sledge said, "Its great to play to an audience that is so enthusiastic ... that's why I love my job. This place is gorgeous!" When asked if he meant Greeneville or NPAC, he said, "Why both you sweet thing."

Several in the crowd in the lobby following the show told Sledge they were proud of the Greeneville folks who were in his backup band -- Ashley Bean, Darlene McCleish, and John Brown. In his gentle, sweet way, he said, "Why of course they're wonderful....that's why they're here with Percy."

Percy Sledge entertained the near-capacity crowd with his "When A Man Loves A Woman," "It Tears Me Up," "Take Time To Know Her," "Out Of Left Field," and much more.

"When a Man Loves a Woman" was Sledge's first song recorded under the contract, and was released in 1966. The song's inspiration came when Sledge's girlfriend left him for a modeling career after he was laid off from a construction job in late 1965.

It became number one in the United States and went on to become an international hit. The song was also the first gold record released by Atlantic Records.

The soul anthem became the cornerstone of Sledge's career, and was followed by "Warm and Tender Love," "It Tears Me Up, "Take Time to Know Her," "Love Me Tender," and "Cover Me."

Sledge charted with "I'll Be Your Everything" and "Sunshine" during the 1970s, and has become an international concert favorite throughout the world, especially in the Netherlands, Germany, and on the African continent, and South Africa in particular.

In 2005, Sledge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was an inaugural Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award honoree in 1989.

In May 2007, Sledge was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame for his contributions to the state's music. Sledge is also an inductee of the Delta Music Museum in Ferriday, La.