Don Williams, country music legend, has died at age 78.
By: Karl Stern (@dragonkingkarl, @wiwcool, karl@whenitwascool.com)
"In giving voice to songs like "Good Ole Boys Like Me," "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good," and "Amanda," Don Williams offered calm, beauty, and a sense of wistful peace that is in short supply these days. His music will forever be a balm in troublesome times. Everyone who makes country music with grace, intelligence, and ageless intent will do so while standing on the shoulders of this gentle giant." - Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO
Country music had it's legendary outlaws, wild men, and renegades like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, and Willie Nelson and country music was all the better for it. But then there was the gentle giant- Don Williams. Don Williams, born May 27, 1939 in Floydada, TX, was not known for his wild drinking, crazy bar brawls, nor for his surely temperament. Don Williams was known for his mellow voice, tender ballads, friendliness, slow relaxing concerts, and being the "Gentle Giant" of country music. Don Williams died on Friday, September 8, 2017 at the age of 78 according to a story by the Associated Press.
I grew up a huge fan of Don Williams soft songs and deep voice. Don Williams was a hit making machine during the 1970s with dozens of top 40 hit songs like Tulsa Time, Amanda, Good Ole Boys Like Me, I Believe in You, It Must Be Love, and many more. I often said that you could never be in a bad mood listening to Don Williams. His soft, deep, mellow voice remained strong to the end.
In 2014 I was suffering from stage three colon cancer and had just undergone extensive chemotherapy and radiation. I was very sick. As a birthday present from my wife Tonya of When It Was Cool she took me to a Don Williams concert in Pigeon Forge, TN. Even well into his seventies, Don Williams' voice sounded the same as ever as he sat on stool through a lengthy set which kicked off with my favorite song "Good Ole Boys Like Me".
Don Williams began his solo country music career in 1971 (ironically, the year I was born). His first single was "I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me," which became a number one hit song, and was the first of a long string of top ten hits between 1974 and 1991. Only four of his 46 singles didn't make it to the Top Ten.
"I Believe in You" was Don Williams' eleventh number one song on the country chart and stayed at number one for two weeks and spent twelve weeks total on the country chart.
On February 23, 2010, the Country Music Association announced that Don Williams was to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Updates:
The Tennessean covers Don Williams Death- http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/09/08/country-music-hall-famer-don-williams-dead-78/647267001/
Washington Post covers Don Williams Death - https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/don-williams-country-singer-with-17-no-1-hits-dies-at-78/2017/09/09/bf139fa6-956d-11e7-aace-04b862b2b3f3_story.html?utm_term=.cba5d2d31a2e
Billboard covers the death of Don Williams - http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7957875/don-williams-eulogy-singer
- 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
- 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
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