Don Williams (October 2006)

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 Don Williams' quote, which he submitted to this site on Friday 27 October 2006.

I (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


 

About Don Williams...

Don Williams was born in Floydada, Texas in May 1939 & is regarded 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 then worked for his father-in-law in the furniture business in Texas.

However, Don then decided to move to Nashville & hooked up with producer Allen Reynolds & song-writer Bob McDill.  1973 saw the release of 'Don Williams, Vol. 1' on the fledgling JMI label, owned by Jack Clement; the album included such memorable songs as Bob McDill's 'Amanda' & Don's 'The shelter of your eyes', as well as 'Come early morning' & 'I recall a gypsy woman', the latter track became Don's biggest hit in the UK in 1976.

In 1974, Don achieved his first No.1 hit with 'I wouldn't want to live if you didn't love me' in September of that year; he 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 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 as the 'Country Star of the Decade' in 1980 where he enjoyed two pop hits; 'You're my best friend' in 1976 (No.35) & 'I recall a gypsy woman' in 1976 (No.13).

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.

Visit Don Williams' Official Website

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