Renowned country singer and Nashville songwriter, Don Williams has passed on.The late country star passed away after a “short illness” on Friday at home in Alabama.
On Friday his publicist confirmed Williams, who was known as “the Gentle Giant” because of his easygoing temperament, died after a short illness.
Williams had 17 number ones in the US and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010, before he retired in 2016. He was known for his rich voice, gentle delivery and storytelling style. He toured sparingly, did few media interviews and spent much of his time on his farm west of Nashville.
In a statement released on Friday, Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, said, “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.”
An internationally popular country star, Don was referred to as the “Gentle Giant” of country music and he earned 17 number one country hits throughout his career.
Some of his hits included I Believe in You, Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good, You’re My Best Friend, Some Broken Hearts Never Mend, and Till the Rivers All Run Dry.
According to Rolling Stone, Don Williams was born in Floydada, Texas, on May 27th, 1939 and raised in Portland, Texas, where he learned guitar from his mother.
Music had always been close to his heart, as he entered his first talent contest — and won — at the age of three.
Williams played in a band with several friends during his teenage years, and started a family not too long after graduating high school, marrying his wife Joy in April 1960.
Based in Nashville, the band earned two Top 40 tunes, “I Can Make It With You” and “Look What You’ve Done,” in late 1966.
After the group disbanded, Williams landed back in Texas to sell furniture in his father’s store before returning to Music City to embark on a solo career.
“Cowboy” Jack Clement signed Williams as a songwriter to his Jack Music publishing company, where he recorded demos for songwriter-producer Allen Reynolds, who later went on to helm projects for Crystal Gayle and Garth Brooks, among many others.
Williams recorded his last studio album in 2014.