DONALD RAY WILLIAMS

Today I mourn My Fiend from a distance Don Williams. It seems every gifted musician always sing about death, knowing too well they'll die someday.
In a track (Talk is Cheap) his lyrics said:
Talk about life, talk about death
Talk about catching every breath
Talk about when, and talk about why!
Talk about do, and talk about don’t
Talk about will and talk about won’t
Talk about the sweet… bye and bye
[Chorus:]
Well, talk is cheap and times are wasting
Get busy living or at least die trying
Wine is for tasting, roads for taking
Talk is cheap and times are wasting!
........
I miss him and His music will forever be a balm in troublesome times.
Rest in peace "Gentle Giant" of Country Music.



Don Williams

For other people named Don Williams, see Don Williams (disambiguation).
Don Williams
Donwilliams.jpg
Williams performing in 2006
Background information
Birth nameDonald Ray Williams
BornMay 27, 1939
Floydada, Texas, U.S.
DiedSeptember 8, 2017 (aged 78)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano, bass
Years active1964–2016
LabelsColumbia, Dot, ABC, MCA, Capitol, RCA, American Harvest, Giant, Koch, Compendia, Sugar Hill Records
Websitewww.don-williams.com
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.[1]

Early years

Donald Ray Williams was born the youngest of three sons on May 27, 1939, in Floydada, Texas. His parents were Loveta Mae (née Lambert; 1914-2007) and James Andrew "Jim" Williams (1898-1982).[2] 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.[3]
Williams would suffer a personal tragedy on July 20, 1963, when his eldest brother Kenneth was accidentally electrocuted after coming in contact with a live wire. He was only 29 years old.[4]
Prior to forming the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, Williams served in the US army for two years after which worked odd jobs supporting himself.[5]. It was with the group the Pozo-Seco Singers that Williams alongside Susan Taylor and Lofton Cline would record several records for Columbia Records .[6]. Williams would remain with the group until 1969, ultimately the Pozo-Seco Singers disbanded the following year.

Solo career

After the Pozo-Seco Singers disbanded, Williams would briefly work outside the music industry.[7] 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.[citation needed] 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.[8]
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.[citation needed]
"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.[9] It was his only Top 40 chart entry, where it peaked at #24. It was also hit in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.[10]
Don 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.[citation needed]
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.[11]
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.[12] 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.[13]
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.[14]

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.[18] His music is also popular internationally, including the UK, Australia, Ukraine, India, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. [19] In 2010, the Country Music Association inducted Don Williams into the Country Music Hall of Fame.[20] This is considered to be the Country music industry's highest honor to bestow upon an artist.

Awards and nominations

Nominations

Discography

Main article: Don Williams discography

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