William Nelson "Sonny" Sanders (August 6, 1939 – October 12, 2016) was an influential figure in the American soul music scene, known for his work as a singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer. Born in Chicago, Sanders began his musical journey with his first recording in 1955, contributing to "Tears of Love" / "Roxanna" by Sax Kari and the Qualtones. In 1957, he co-founded the Satintones in Detroit alongside Robert Bateman, James Ellis, and Sammy Mack. The group became Motown's first signed vocal ensemble, debuting with "Going to the Hop" / "Motor City" in 1960. Sanders also lent his voice as a backing singer on notable Motown tracks like Marv Johnson's "You Got What It Takes" and Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)", while also serving as an arranger.

After the Satintones disbanded, Sanders left Motown in the early 1960s but continued to make his mark as an arranger. He worked on the Reflections' hit "Just Like Romeo and Juliet" and collaborated with Carl Davis in Chicago from 1965. His arranging prowess was evident in songs for artists such as Mary Wells, Edwin Starr ("Agent Double-O-Soul"), and Jackie Wilson ("Higher and Higher", "I Get the Sweetest Feeling"). Sanders' contributions extended to Brunswick Records, working with Gene Chandler, the Chi-Lites, and Tyrone Davis.

Sanders co-wrote Barbara Acklin's "Am I the Same Girl" with Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites, which later became "Soulful Strut" by Young-Holt Unlimited. He also co-wrote "If You Need Me" with Wilson Pickett and Robert Bateman, a track recorded by Pickett, Solomon Burke, and the Rolling Stones. In the 1970s, Sanders worked with Chubby and the Turnpikes (later Tavares) and the band Manchild, featuring Babyface. In 1998, he and Carl Davis produced Eugene Record's final album, Let Him In. Sanders also established a gospel music publishing company, Joy Over One. He passed away in Detroit in 2016 at the age of 77.