Don Williams Biography

Donald Ray Williams (May 27, 1939 - September 8, 2017) was an American country singer, songwriter, and 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing 17 number one country hits. His straightforward yet smooth bass-baritone voice, soft tones, and imposing build earned him the nickname: "Gentle Giant" of country music.

Early years

Donald Ray Williams was born the youngest of three sons on May 27, 1939, in Floydada, Texas. His parents were Loveta Mae (ne Lambert; 1914-2007) and James Andrew "Jim" Williams (1898-1982). 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.

On July 20, 1963, Williams' eldest brother Kenneth was accidentally electrocuted after touching a live wire. He was 29 years old.

Prior to forming the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, Williams served in the US army for two years and after his discharge, he worked various odd jobs in order to supporting himself.. It was with the group the Pozo-Seco Singers that Williams, alongside Susan Taylor and Lofton Cline, recorded several records for Columbia Records.. He remained with the group until 1969, and it disbanded the following year.

Solo career

After the Pozo-Seco Singers disbanded, Williams briefly worked outside the music industry. 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. At the height of the country and western boom in the UK, he had a top forty hit with "You're My Best Friend" and a top twenty hit in 1976 with "I Recall a Gypsy Woman", and, in 1978, a #2 album, Images.

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 didn't make it to the Top Ten.

"I Believe in You" is a 1980 single written by Roger Cook and Sam Hogin and recorded by Don Williams. It was Williams' eleventh #1 on the country chart. It stayed at #1 for two weeks and spent 12 weeks on the country chart. It was his only Top 40 chart entry, where it peaked at #24. It was also hit in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

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

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.

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 is his first with the independent Americana label Sugar Hill Records. The record includes guest appearances by Alison Krauss, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill. To accompany his latest album release he embarked on a UK Tour. A much loved country artist among British fans he had his final UK tour in 2014.

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.

Death

On September 8, 2017, Williams died in Mobile, Alabama of emphysema.

Recognition

Williams has had a strong influence over a variety of recording artists of different genres. His hits have been covered by artists such as Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Claude Russell Bridges, Lefty Frizzell, Josh Turner, Sonny James, Alison Krauss, Billy Dean, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Lambchop, Alan Jackson, Tomeu Penya, Waylon Jennings, Pete Townshend and Tortoise (band) with Bonnie "Prince" Billy. His music is also popular internationally, including the UK, Australia, Ukraine, India, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. In 2010, the Country Music Association inducted Don Williams into the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is considered to be the Country music industry's highest honor to bestow upon an artist.

Awards and nominations

Wins

Academy of Country Music

• 1978 ACM Single Record of the Year - Tulsa Time

Country Music Association

• 1978 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year

Nominations

Academy of Country Music

• 1976 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1977 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1978 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1979 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1980 ACM Album of the Year - I Believe in You
• 1980 ACM Single Record of the Year - I Believe in You
• 1980 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1982 ACM Album of the Year - Listen to the Radio

Country Music Association

• 1976 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1977 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1978 CMA Album of the Year - Country Boy
• 1979 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1980 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1981 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year

Discography

See Don Williams discography for more information