Don Williams
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2009) (Find sources: Don Williams – news, books, scholar) |
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (July 2007) |
| Don Williams | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Don Williams |
| Also known as | The Gentle Giant of Country Music |
| Born | May 27, 1939 Floydada, Texas, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Country, Country rock, Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, Musician |
| Instrument(s) | vocals, Guitar, Piano, Bass, drums |
| Years active | 1971-2006 |
| Label(s) | Columbia, Dot, ABC, MCA, Capitol, RCA, Giant, Koch |
| Website | Don Williams.com |
Don Williams (born May 27, 1939 in Floydada, Texas), is a country singer and songwriter. 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 No. 1 hits.
His deep, yet straightforward vocals, soft tones, and an imposing build earned him the nickname "The Gentle Giant" of country music.
Contents |
[edit] Early career
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 recruited Susan Taylor and formed the Pozo-Seco Singers, a folk-pop group. The band signed a contract with Columbia Records, and had a series of Top 50 hits. The group disbanded in 1971, at which point Williams embarked on a solo career.
[edit] Solo career
Williams started out as a songwriter for Jack Music Inc. Eventually, he signed with JMI Records as a solo 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.
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. According to his staff, Williams is now retired and will no longer tour, although the possibility of new recordings does exist.
Don married Joy Bucher on April 10, 1960. They have two sons, Gary and Tim.
[edit] Recognition
In 1978 , Don Williams was the Country Music Association's "Male Vocalist of the Year" and his "Tulsa Time" was named Single of the Year. His songs have been recorded by artists such as Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Lefty Frizzell, Josh Turner, Sonny James, Alison Krauss, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Alan Jackson, Waylon Jennings and Pete Townshend. [1] His music is also popular internationally, including Great Britain, Africa and India.[2].
[edit] Discography
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- Don Williams: The Gentle Giant
- "AGR Television Records" Don Williams's international record label
- Fan Site
- "Don Williams Yahoo Group" Yahoo group for Don William's fans
- Don Williams at CMT
- Don Williams at the Internet Movie Database
- [1]
