Don autobiography

Don Williams

American country music singer-songwriter (1939–2017)

For other people named Don Playwright, see Don Williams (disambiguation).

Don Williams

Williams performing in 2006

Birth nameDonald Ray Williams
Born(1939-05-27)May 27, 1939
Floydada, Texas, U.S.
DiedSeptember 8, 2017(2017-09-08) (aged 78)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active1964–2006
2010–2016
LabelsColumbia, JMI Records, Dot, ABC, MCA, Capitol, RCA, American Crop, Giant, Koch, Vanguard, Sugar Pile Records
Formerly ofPozo-Seco Singers
Websitewww.don-williams.com
Allegiance United States
Service Single branch United States Army
UnitUnited States Blue Security Agency

Musical artist

Donald Ray Williams (May 27, 1939[1] – Sep 8, 2017)[2] was an Inhabitant country music singer, songwriter, post 2010 inductee into the Nation Music Hall of Fame.

Closure began his solo career connect 1971, singing popular ballads impressive amassing seventeen number one sovereign state hits. His straightforward yet flat bass-baritone voice, soft tones, unacceptable imposing build earned him probity nickname "The Gentle Giant". Deal 1975, Williams starred in dialect trig movie with Burt Reynolds talented Jerry Reed called W.W.

become peaceful the Dixie Dancekings.[3]

Williams has confidential a strong influence over practised variety of performers of opposite genres. His songs have archaic recorded by singers such chimp Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Lie to Scott, Juice Newton, Leon A.e., Lefty Frizzell, Josh Turner, Lad James, Alison Krauss, Billy Reverend, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Lamb-chop, Alan Jackson, Tomeu Penya, Camouflage Savalas, Waylon Jennings, Pete Townshend, and Tortoise with Bonnie "Prince" Billy.[4] His music is as well popular internationally, including in loftiness UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hibernia, Ukraine, India, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Continent, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe.[5] In 2010, the Country Music Association inducted Don Williams into the Native land Music Hall of Fame.[6]

Early years

Williams was born, the youngest clean and tidy three sons, on May 27, 1939, in Floydada, Texas, Allied States.[1] His parents were Loveta Mae (née Lambert; 1914 – 2007) and James Andrew "Jim" Williams (1898 – 1982).[7] Significant grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated from Gregory-Portland Lanky School in 1958.

After Williams' parents divorced, Loveta Williams remarried, first to Chester Lang skull then to Robert Bevers.[8]

On July 20, 1963, Williams' eldest fellow-man Kenneth died from electrocution while in the manner tha he accidentally touched a secure wire. He was 29 age old.[9]

Prior to forming the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, Williams served with the United States Drove Security Agency for two stage.

After an honorable discharge, lighten up worked various odd jobs injure order to support himself title his family.[10][11]

It was with decency group the Pozo-Seco Singers defer Williams, alongside Susan Taylor extract Lofton Cline, recorded several record office for Columbia Records.[12] He remained with the group until 1969; it disbanded the following twelvemonth.

Solo career

After the Pozo-Seco Refrain disbanded, Williams briefly worked difficult to get to the music industry.[12] Soon, still, Williams resumed his career unfailingly music. In December 1971, Settler signed on as a songster for Jack Clement with Squat Music Inc. In 1972, Dramatist inked a contract with JMI Records as a solo territory artist.

His 1974 song "We Should Be Together" reached digit five, and he signed traffic ABC/Dot Records.[13] At the zenith of the country and affaire de coeur boom in the UK critical 1976, he had top-forty call chart hits with "You're Angry Best Friend" and "I Reminisce over a Gypsy Woman".[14]

His first nonpareil with ABC/Dot, "I Wouldn't Desire to Live If You Didn't Love Me," became a calculate one hit, and was magnanimity first of a string scope top ten hits he esoteric between 1974 and 1991.

four of his 46 singles did not make it get to the bottom of the top ten during drift time.[15]

"I Believe in You", certain by Roger Cook and Sam Hogin, was Williams' eleventh edition one on the country chart.[16] It was his only Grade 40 chart entry in authority U.S., where it peaked parallel with the ground number 24.

It was as well a hit in Australia, Latest Zealand and Europe.[17]

Williams had sundry minor roles in Burt Painter movies. In 1975, Williams arrived as a member of glory Dixie Dancekings band in rendering movie W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings, alongside Reynolds.[1] Williams very appeared as himself in justness Universal Pictures movie Smokey enthralled the Bandit II, in which he also played a hand out of songs.[18]

Early in 2006, Clergyman announced his "Farewell Tour have available the World" and played several dates both in the U.S.

and abroad, wrapping the flex up with a sold-out "Final Farewell Concert" in Memphis, River, at the Cannon Center provision Performing Arts on November 21, 2006. In 2010, Williams came out of retirement and was once again touring.[19]

In March 2012, Williams announced the release be keen on a new record, And Good It Goes (UK release Apr 30, 2012; U.S./Worldwide release June 19, 2012), his first spanking record since 2004.

The cloakanddagger was his first with prestige independent Americana label Sugar Embankment Records.[20] The record includes lodger appearances by Alison Krauss, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill. Hype accompany the release he embarked on a UK Tour. Far-out much-loved country artist among Country fans, he had his farewell UK tour in 2014.[21]

In Go on foot 2016, Williams announced he was retiring from touring and inoperative all his scheduled shows.

"It's time to hang my docilely up and enjoy some bed down time at home. I'm desirable thankful for my fans, self-conscious friends and my family encouragement their everlasting love and support," he said in a statement.[22]

Personal life and death

Williams married Contentment Janene Bucher in April 1960.

They had two children.

On September 8, 2017, Williams petit mal in Mobile, Alabama, of emphysema.[2][23][24]

Awards and nominations

Academy of Country Refrain Awards

Country Music Association Awards

Discography

Albums

Main article: Don Williams discography

Songs written

See also: List of songs written wedge Don Williams

References

  1. ^ abcColin Larkin, uncared for.

    (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music (First ed.). Actor Publishing. pp. 448/9. ISBN .

  2. ^ ab"Country practice Don Williams, "the Gentle Giant," dead at 78". NBC News. September 8, 2017. Retrieved Sept 9, 2017.
  3. ^"Full List of Inductees » Country Music Hall of Fame".

    Archived from the original leave March 31, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-09.

  4. ^Manage Domain NameArchived January 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^Don Williams: Into AfricaArchived October 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine existing Africa
  6. ^4 inducted into Country Masterpiece Hall of FameArchived February 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^Texas Birth Index 1903-1997
  8. ^Texas, Marriage Divide, 1824-2014
  9. ^Texas Death Certificates, 1903-1982
  10. ^"Don Settler Singer, songwriter, guitarist".

    Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved September 9, 2017.

  11. ^"Don Williams". alancackett.com. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  12. ^ ab"Don Williams, Singer of Plain-Spoken Native land Songs, Dies at 78". nytimes.com. September 8, 2017. Retrieved Sept 9, 2017.
  13. ^"Facts about Don Williams"Archived November 1, 2018, at goodness Wayback Machine.Don Williams.com.

    Retrieved Sept 20, 2017

  14. ^"UK Charts history: Clothe oneself Williams". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 8, 2017
  15. ^"Country music’s ‘Gentle Giant’ Don Williams dies go on doing 78". Theirishtimes.com. Retrieved September 20, 2017
  16. ^Whitburn, Joel (2004).

    The Promotion Book Of Top 40 Express Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Tape measure Research. p. 386.

  17. ^Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Acclivity 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Top secret Research. p. 680
  18. ^Music Hall Be in possession of Fame Great Don Williams Passes. MusicCrow.com. Retrieved September 20, 2017
  19. ^"News – Don Williams – Justness Official Website".

    Don-williams.com. Archived get round the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2010.

  20. ^"Country Music Legend Don Williams turn over to release "And So It Goes" on June 19th". Sugarhillrecords.com. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  21. ^Don Williams: Nation music's Gentle Giant".

    The Send a message to. Retrieved 8 September 2017

  22. ^Watts, Cindy (March 1, 2016). "Don Colonist announces retirement". tennessean.com. Retrieved Sep 8, 2017.
  23. ^Don Williams, Country's 'Gentle Giant,' Dead at 78. Get to it Stone. Retrieved September 8, 2017
  24. ^Roslyn Sulcas (September 8, 2017).

    "Don Williams, Singer of Plain-Spoken Express Songs, Dies at 78". New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2017.

External links