Don Williams

For other people named Don Williams, see Don Williams (disambiguation).
Don Williams
Background information
Birth name Don Williams
Born (1939-05-27) May 27, 1939
Floydada, Texas, United States
Genres Country, country rock, country pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano, bass
Years active 1964–2006, 2010-2016
Labels Columbia, Dot, ABC, MCA, Capitol, RCA, American Harvest, Giant, Koch, Compendia, Sugar Hill Records
Associated acts Keith Urban
Website Don Williams.com

Don Williams (born May 27, 1939, Floydada, Texas, United States) is an American country singer, songwriter and a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated in 1958 from Gregory-Portland High School. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, 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.[1]

Early career

When Don was three years old he sang in a local talent contest—his first public performance—and won first prize, an alarm clock. He began playing guitar as a teenager, which he learned from his mother. While a teenager, he played with country, rock n' roll and folk bands. He formed his first band with Lofton Kline, called The Strangers Two, and in 1964 was approached by Susan Taylor to form a trio which ultimately became the Pozo-Seco Singers, a folk-pop group. The band recorded a song called, "Time" on a local label called Edmark Records and it became a regional hit in their home state of Texas. Columbia Records, picked up the record, signed the group, and released a series of Top 50 hits and three albums. After releasing a fourth album on Certron Records in 1970, the group disbanded in 1971.

Solo career

After the Pozo-Seco Singers disbanded, Williams briefly abandoned the music industry and got a job working for his father-in-law. Soon, however, Williams resumed his career in music. In December 1971, Williams signed on as a songwriter for 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. 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. "I Believe in You" would be Don Williams' eleventh #1 on the country chart. The single stayed at #1 for two weeks and spent 12 weeks on the country chart. [2] "I Believe in You" would be Don Williams' only Top 40 entry, where it peaked at #24. It was also hit in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. [3]

Don also appeared as himself in the Universal Pictures movie, "Smokey & 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 the "Final Farewell Concert" in Memphis, Tennessee at the Cannon Center for Performing Arts on November 21, 2006. Playing to a full house, the final event was well received and quite emotional for fans in attendance.

In 2010, Williams came out of retirement and was once again touring.[4]

In March 2012, Williams announced the release of a new record And So It Goes (UK release April 30, 2012; US/Worldwide release June 19, 2012), his first new record since 2004. The record is his first with the independent Americana label Sugar Hill Records.[5] 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.

In March 2016, the Pensacola News Journal reported that Williams had announced he was retiring from touring and canceled 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," the 76-year-old Williams said in a statement.

Personal life

Williams married Joy Bucher on April 10, 1960. They have two sons, Gary and Timmy.

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, Waylon Jennings, Pete Townshend and Tortoise (band) with Bonnie "Prince" Billy.[6] His music is also popular internationally, including Great Britain, Australia, Ukraine, India, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Sierra Leone.[7] On February 23, 2010, the Country Music Association announced that Don Williams was to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.[8]

Awards and nominations

Wins

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Nominations

Academy of Country Music

Country Music Association

Discography

References

  1. ↑ http://countrymusichalloffame.org/full-list-of-inductees/view/don-williams
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 386.
  3. ↑ ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 680.
  4. ↑ "News - Don Williams - THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE". don-williams.com.
  5. ↑ "Country Music Legend Don Williams to release "And So It Goes" on June 19th". Sugarhillrecords.com. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  6. ↑ Manage Domain Name Archived January 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Don Williams: Into Africa and Africa
  8. ↑ 4 inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame Archived February 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.

External links

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