Gene Watson Peer's Quote from 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 Watson's Peers who were contacted during 2006 were most gracious with their time and words. It is here, within this special part of the Gene Watson Fan Site, 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 Saturday 27 May 1939 and is regarded by many as the 'Gentle Giant of Country Music'. Don 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 and Don grew up listening to country music.

Don Williams and Lofton Kline formed a semi-professional folk group called Strangers Two and 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' and 'Look What You've Done'.

Following Kline's departure, they employed several replacements, resulting in a lack of musical direction. After Don Williams 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 and hooked up with producer Allen Reynolds and song-writer Bob McDill.

In 1973, Don Williams saw the release of 'Don Williams, Volume I' (JMI Records, 1973) on the fledgling JMI Records label, which was owned by Jack Clement; the album included such memorable songs as Bob McDill's 'Amanda' and Don Williams' 'The Shelter Of Your Eyes' (No.14, 1973), as well as 'Come Early Morning' (No.12, 1973).

'Don Williams, Volume I' (JMI Records, 1973) also included 'I Recall A Gypsy Woman', a track which became Don Williams' biggest hit in the UK in 1976.

In 1974, Don Williams saw the release of his second album 'Don Williams, Volume II' (JMI Records, 1974) and he achieved his first No.1 hit on the Billboard country music singles chart; 'I Wouldn't Want To Live If You Didn't Love Me' was No.1 for one week in September 1974; Don Williams would go on to rack up an impressive list of hit songs, including seventeen No.1 country music hits on the Billboard country music singles chart, spanning two decades.

Don Williams was also awarded two Country Music Association (CMA) Awards; 'Male Vocalist' in 1978 and 'Album of the Year' for 'I Believe In You' (MCA Records, 1980) 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) and '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 And The Dixie Dance Kings' in 1975 and 'Smokey And 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 March/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' and 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) and 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) and 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) and included the track on 'Country Feeling' (RCA Records, 1974).

Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 - Tuesday 3 July 2001) recorded Don Williams' 'Too Late To Turn Back Now' (co-written with Allen Reynolds) and 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) and included the track on 'I'll Do Anything It Takes' (United Artists Records, 1974).

Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 - Friday 12 September 2003) recorded Don Williams' 'Down The Road I Go' and included the track on 'Look At Them Beans' (Columbia Records, 1975).

Jean Shepard recorded Don Williams' 'We're All The Way' and 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) and included the track on 'Crystal' (United Artists Records, 1976).

Alison Krauss recorded Don Williams' 'Lay Down Beside Me' and included the track on 'A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection' (Rounder Records, 2007).

Visit Don Williams' Official Site