Gene Watson's Peers: Don Williams
Gene Watson's peers within the country music industry
believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much
so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's singer' - and
rightly so!
All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2006 were most gracious with their
time & words. It is here, within this special part of gene-watson.com, that
you have an opportunity to read a quote from
Don Williams, which he submitted
to this site on Friday 27 October 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Don Williams who has made a
special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone
Star Hero'.
Don Williams
This quote was submitted on Friday 27 October 2006
'Gene Watson has one of the finest voices in country
music'.
Thank you, Don Williams, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Don Williams...
Don Williams was born in Floydada,
Texas on 27 May 1939 & is regarded by many as the 'Gentle Giant of Country
Music'. He spent much of his childhood in Corpus Christi, Texas; his father
was a mechanic whose job took him to other regions, his mother played guitar
& Don grew up listening to country music.
Don & Lofton Kline formed a semi-professional folk group called the
Strangers Two & then, with the addition of Susan Taylor, they became the
Pozo-Seco Singers ('pozo-seco' is a geological term to denote a dry well).
Handled by Bob Dylan's manager Albert Grossman, they had major pop hits in
the US with 'Time', 'I can make it with you' & 'Look what you've done'.
Following Kline's departure, they employed several replacements, resulting
in a lack of musical direction. After Don had failed to turn the trio
towards country music, they disbanded in 1971.
Don Williams then worked for his father-in-law in the furniture business in
Texas. However, Don Williams decided to move to Nashville & hooked up
with producer Allen Reynolds & song-writer Bob McDill.
1973 saw the release of 'Don Williams, Volume 1' on the fledgling JMI label,
which was owned by Jack Clement; the album included such memorable songs as
Bob McDill's 'Amanda' & Don's 'The shelter of your eyes' (No.14, 1973), as
well as 'Come early morning' (No.12, 1973).
'Don Williams, Volume 1' also included 'I recall a gypsy woman', a track
which became Don's biggest hit in the UK in 1976.
In 1974, Don saw the release of his second album 'Don Williams, Volume 2'
(JMI Records, 1974) & he achieved his first No.1 hit on Billboard with 'I
wouldn't want to live if you didn't love me' in September of that year; Don
would go on to rack up an impressive list of hit songs including 17 No.1
country hits in the US spanning two decades.
Don Williams also won two CMA (Country Music Association) Awards; 'Male
Vocalist' in 1978 & 'Album of the Year' for 'I Believe in You' () in 1981.
In England, Don Williams was cited by
Country Music People
magazine as the 'Country Star of the Decade' in 1980 where he enjoyed two
pop hits; 'You're my best friend' (No.35, 1976) & 'I recall a gypsy woman'
(No.13, 1976).
Apart from his major achievements within the country music genre, Don
Williams has also appeared in two movies; 'WW & the Dixie Dance Kings ' in
1975 & 'Smokey & the Bandit II' in 1980, both of which starred Burt
Reynolds.
Don Williams has racked up an impressive list of seventeen No.1 country hits
on the Billboard country music singles chart, all of which are detailed
below:
'I wouldn't want to live if you didn't love me' (No.1 for one week in
September 1974)
'You're my best friend' (No.1 for one week in June 1975)
'(Turn out the light and) Love me tonight' (No.1 for one week in November
1975)
'Till the rivers all run dry' (No.1 for one week in Mach/April 1976)
'Say it again' (No.1 for one week in August 1976)
'Some broken hearts never mend' (N.1 for one week in May 1977)
'I'm just a country boy' (No.1 for one week in November 1977)
'Tulsa time' (No.1 for one week in January 1979)
'It must be love' (No.1 for one week in September/October 1979)
'Love me over again' (No.1 for one week in February 1980)
'I believe in you' (No.1 for 2 weeks in October/November 1980) / No.24 on
Billboard's Top 100 chart
'Lord, I hope this day is good' (No.1 for 1 week in February/March 1982)
'If Hollywood don't need you' (No.1 for one week in March 1983)
'Love is on a roll' (No.1 for one week in July 1983)
'Stay young' (No.1 for one week in February/March 1984)
'That's the thing about love' (No.1 for one week in August 1984)
'Heartbeat in the darkness' (No.1 for one week in August/September 1985)
Charley Pride recorded Don Williams' 'Shelter of
your eyes' & included the track on 'Sweet Country' (RCA Records, 1973)
Charley Pride recorded Don Williams' 'If she just helps me get over you'
(co-written with Allen Reynolds) & included the track on 'Amazing Love' (RCA
Records, 1973)
Lynn Anderson recorded Don Williams' 'I'm not
that good at goodbye' (co-written with Bob McDill) & included the track on
'Smile For Me' (Columbia Records, 1974)
Charley Pride recorded Don Williams' 'Which way do
we go' (co-written with Allen Reynolds) & included the track on 'Country
Feeling' (RCA Records, 1974)
Johnny Russell recorded Don Williams' 'Too late to turn back now'
(co-written with Allen Reynolds) & included the track on 'She's in Love With
a Rodeo Man' (RCA Records, 1974)
Jean Shepard recorded Don Williams' 'I'm not that good at goodbye'
(co-written with Bob McDill) & included the track on 'I'll Do Anything It
Takes' (United Artists Records, 1974)
Johnny Cash recorded Don Williams' 'Down the road I go' & included the track
on 'Look At Them Beans' (Columbia Records, 1975)
Jean Shepard recorded Don Williams' 'We're all the way' & included the track
on 'Mercy / Ain't Love Good' (United Artists Records, 1976)
Crystal Gayle recorded Don Williams' 'Forgettin' 'bout you' (co-written with
Allen Reynolds) & included the track on 'Crystal' (United Artists Records,
1976)
Alison Krauss recorded Don Williams' 'Lay down beside me' & included the
track on 'A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection' (Rounder Records, 2007)
Visit Don Williams' Official Site
