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Don Williams

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named Don Williams, see Don Williams (disambiguation).

Don Williams
Williams performing in 2006
Williams performing in 2006
Background information
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 Harvest, Giant, Koch, Vanguard, Sugar Hill Records
Formerly ofPozo-Seco Singers
Websitewww.don-williams.com
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
UnitUnited States Army Security Agency

Donald Ray Williams (May 27, 1939[1] – September 8, 2017)[2] was an American country music singer, songwriter, and 2010 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing seventeen number one country hits. His straightforward yet smooth bass-baritone voice, soft tones, and imposing build earned him the nickname "The Gentle Giant". In 1975, Williams starred in a movie with Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed called W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings.[3]

Williams has had a strong influence over a variety of performers of different genres. His songs have been recorded by singers such as Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Ray Scott, Juice Newton, Leon Russell, Lefty Frizzell, Josh Turner, Sonny James, Alison Krauss, Billy Dean, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Lambchop, Alan Jackson, Tomeu Penya, Telly Savalas, Waylon Jennings, Pete Townshend, and Tortoise with Bonnie "Prince" Billy.[4] His music is also popular internationally, including in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Ukraine, India, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe.[5] In 2010, the Country Music Association inducted Don Williams into the Country Music Hall of Fame.[6]

Early years

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Williams was born, the youngest of three sons, on May 27, 1939, in Floydada, Texas, United States.[1] His parents were Loveta Mae (née Lambert; 1914 – 2007) and James Andrew "Jim" Williams (1898 – 1982).[7] He grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated from Gregory-Portland High School in 1958. After Williams' parents divorced, Loveta Williams remarried, first to Chester Lang and then to Robert Bevers.[8]

On July 20, 1963, Williams' eldest brother Kenneth died from electrocution when he accidentally touched a live wire. He was 29 years old.[9]

Prior to forming the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, Williams served with the United States Army Security Agency for two years. After an honorable discharge, he worked various odd jobs in order to support himself and his family.[10][11]

It was with the group the Pozo-Seco Singers that Williams, alongside Susan Taylor and Lofton Cline, recorded several records for Columbia Records.[12] He remained with the group until 1969; it disbanded the following year.

Solo career

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After the Pozo-Seco Singers disbanded, Williams briefly worked outside the music industry.[12] Soon, however, Williams resumed his career in music. In December 1971, Williams signed on as a songwriter for Jack Clement with Jack Music Inc. In 1972, Williams inked a contract with JMI Records as a solo country artist. His 1974 song "We Should Be Together" reached number five, and he signed with ABC/Dot Records.[13] At the height of the country and western boom in the UK in 1976, he had top-forty pop chart hits with "You're My Best Friend" and "I Recall a Gypsy Woman".[14]

His first single with ABC/Dot, "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me," became a number one hit, and was the first of a string of top ten hits he had between 1974 and 1991. Only four of his 46 singles did not make it to the top ten during that time.[15]

"I Believe in You", written by Roger Cook and Sam Hogin, was Williams' eleventh number one on the country chart.[16] It was his only Top 40 chart entry in the U.S., where it peaked at number 24. It was also a hit in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.[17]

Williams had some minor roles in Burt Reynolds movies. In 1975, Williams appeared as a member of the Dixie Dancekings band in the movie W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings, alongside Reynolds.[1] Williams also appeared as himself in the Universal Pictures movie Smokey and the Bandit II, in which he also played a number of songs.[18]

Early in 2006, Williams announced his "Farewell Tour of the World" and played numerous dates both in the U.S. and abroad, wrapping the tour up with a sold-out "Final Farewell Concert" in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Cannon Center for 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 of a new record, And So It Goes (UK release April 30, 2012; U.S./Worldwide release June 19, 2012), his first new record since 2004. The record was his first with the independent Americana label Sugar Hill Records.[20] The record includes guest appearances by Alison Krauss, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill. To accompany the release he embarked on a UK Tour. A much-loved country artist among British fans, he had his final UK tour in 2014.[21]

In March 2016, Williams announced he was retiring from touring and cancelled all his scheduled shows. "It's time to hang my hat up and enjoy some quiet time at home. I'm so thankful for my fans, my friends and my family for their everlasting love and support," he said in a statement.[22]

Personal life and death

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Williams married Joy Janene Bucher in April 1960. They had two children.

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

Awards and nominations

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Academy of Country Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1979 Don Williams Top Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
"Tulsa Time" Single Record of the Year Won
1980 Don Williams Top Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
1981 Nominated
I Believe in You Album of the Year Nominated
"I Believe in You" Single Record of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
1982 Don Williams and Emmylou Harris Top Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
1983 Listen to the Radio Album of the Year Nominated
2007 Don Williams Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award Awarded

Country Music Association Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
1976 Don Williams Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
1977 Nominated
1978 Won
Country Boy Album of the Year Nominated
1979 Don Williams Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
1980 Nominated
"Good Ole Boys Like Me" Single of the Year Nominated
1981 "I Believe in You" Nominated
Don Williams Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
I Believe in You Album of the Year Won
1982 Don Williams and Emmylou Harris Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
1983 Nominated
1984 Nominated

Discography

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Albums

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Main article: Don Williams discography

Songs written

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See also: List of songs written by Don Williams

References

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  1. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 448/9. ISBN 0-85112-726-6.
  2. ^ a b "Country star Don Williams, "the Gentle Giant," dead at 78". NBC News. September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  3. ^ "Full List of Inductees » Country Music Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on March 31, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  4. ^ Manage Domain Name Archived January 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Don Williams: Into Africa Archived October 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine and Africa
  6. ^ 4 inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame Archived February 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Texas Birth Index 1903-1997
  8. ^ Texas, Marriage Index, 1824-2014
  9. ^ Texas Death Certificates, 1903-1982
  10. ^ "Don Williams Singer, songwriter, guitarist". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  11. ^ "Don Williams". alancackett.com. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Don Williams, Singer of Plain-Spoken Country Songs, Dies at 78". nytimes.com. September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  13. ^ "Facts about Don Williams" Archived November 1, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.Don Williams.com. Retrieved September 20, 2017
  14. ^ "UK Charts history: Don Williams". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 8, 2017
  15. ^ "Country music’s ‘Gentle Giant’ Don Williams dies at 78". Theirishtimes.com. Retrieved September 20, 2017
  16. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 386.
  17. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 680
  18. ^ Music Hall Of Fame Great Don Williams Passes. MusicCrow.com. Retrieved September 20, 2017
  19. ^ "News – Don Williams – The Official Website". Don-williams.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  20. ^ "Country Music Legend Don Williams to release "And So It Goes" on June 19th". Sugarhillrecords.com. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  21. ^ Don Williams: Country music's Gentle Giant". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 September 2017
  22. ^ Watts, Cindy (March 1, 2016). "Don Williams announces retirement". tennessean.com. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  23. ^ Don Williams, Country's 'Gentle Giant,' Dead at 78. Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 8, 2017
  24. ^ Roslyn Sulcas (September 8, 2017). "Don Williams, Singer of Plain-Spoken Country Songs, Dies at 78". New York Times. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
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