Don Williams
Don Williams on the album cover of the Definitive Collection
Background information
Birth name	Don Williams
Also known as	The Gentle Giant of Country Music
Born	May 27, 1939 Floydada, Texas, USA
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee
Genre(s)	Country, Country rock, Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, Musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Bass Drums, Percussion
Years active	1971-
Label(s)	Columbia Records Dot Records ABC Records MCA Records Capitol Records RCA Records Giant Records Koch Records
Website	Don Williams.com

Don Williams (born May 27, 1939 in Floydada, Texas), is a country singer and songwriter. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing 17 number one hits. Don williams Album Cover This image is the cover of an album or single. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Floydada is a city located in Floyd County, Texas. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In political geography and international politics a country is a geographical entity, a territory, most commonly associated with the notions of state or nation. ... Country rock is a musical genre formed from the fusion of rock and roll with country music. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... A singer is a musician who uses his or her voice to produce music. ... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Percussion instruments are played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... Dot Records was an American record label which was active between 1950 and 1977. ... ABC Records started in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records, the recording arm of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres. ... The Music Corporation of America, commonly known as MCA, is a United States based corporation in the music business. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // The Capitol Records company was founded by the songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of movie producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs, (1910-1971) (owner of Music City, at the... RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony BMG Music Entertainment. ... Giant Records was launched as a joint-venture with Warner Bros. ... Koch Records, the primary subsidiary of Koch Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States [1]. // Problemz (of Tru Rydas) Alchemist Criss Angel Anúna Joan Baez Beth Hart Black Ice Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Ian Brown Chris Brubeck Richard Butler C Miller Camron Carl... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Floydada is a city located in Floyd County, Texas. ... This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... A singer is a musician who uses his or her voice to produce music. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Folk music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the common people. ...

His straightforward vocals, soft tones, and an imposing build earned him the nickname "The Gentle Giant" of country music.

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. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Rock and roll (also spelled rock n roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... “Folk song” redirects here. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ...

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. A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... ABC Records started in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records, the recording arm of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres. ...

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. For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

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, Sonny James, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings and Pete Townshend. (Cited: http://www.don-williams.com/info.html) His music is also popular internationally, including Africa and India. [1]. The Country Music Association (CMA) was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. ... Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... Eric Patrick Clapton CBE (born 30 March 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and composer, who is one of the most successful musicians of the 20th century,[1] garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ... William Orville Lefty Frizzell (March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975) was an American country music singer and songwriter of the 1950s; a leading exponent of the Honky Tonk style of country music. ... Sonny James (born James Loden on May 1, 1929 in Hackleburg, Alabama) is an American country music singer and songwriter. ... Charley Frank Pride (born March 18, 1938 in Sledge, Mississippi) is a former Negro League baseball player who became one of the very few African Americans to have a successful career in modern country music. ... Kenneth Donald Kenny Rogers (born August 21, 1938, in Houston, Texas) is a prolific American country music singer, photographer, producer, songwriter, actor and businessman. ... Waylon Jennings in the 1960s. ... Peter Dennis Blandford (Pete) Townshend (born May 19, 1945 in Chiswick, London), is an award winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...

Well-known Songs

• The Shelter Of Your Eyes (1973)
• Amanda (1973)
• I Recall A Gypsy Woman (1973)
• Come Early Morning (1973)
• Atta Way To Go (1974)
• We Should Be Together (1974)
• I Wouldn't Want To Live (If You Didn't Love Me) (1974)
• The Ties That Bind (1975)
• You're My Best Friend (1975)
• Turn Out The Lights And Love Me Tonight (1975)
• Till The Rivers All Run Dry (Harmony - 1976)
• Say It Again (1976)
• She Never Knew Me (1976)
• I'm Just a Country Boy (1977)
• Some Broken Hearts Never Mend (Visions - 1977)
• I Got A Winner In You (1978)
• Rake And Ramblin' Man (1978)
• Lay Down Beside Me (1979)
• It Must Be Love (1979)
• Tulsa Time (1979)
• Love Me Over Again (1980)
• Good Ole Boys Like Me (1980)
• I Believe in You (1980)
• Falling Again (1981)
• Miracles (1981)
• If I Needed You (with Emmylou Harris) (1981)
• Lord I Hope This Day is Good (1982)
• Mistakes (1982)
• If Hollywood Don't Need You (Honey I Still Do) (1983)
• Love Is On A Roll (1983)
• That's The Thing About Love (1984)
• Walkin' A Broken Heart (1985)
• Heartbeat In The Darkness (1986)
• I'll Never Be In Love Again (1987)
• Another Place, Another Time (1988)
• Desperately (1988)
• Old Coyote Town (1989)
• One Good Well (1989)
• Back In My Younger Days (1990)
• True Love (1991)
• Love Have Mercy On A Country Boy (1991)
• Yellow Moon
• Louisiana Saturday Night (Originally recorded by Williams; more commonly known as a single released by Mel McDaniel)

Emmylou Harris (b. ... Mel McDaniel (born September 6, 1942) is an American country music singer. ...

References

• Don Williams biography at VH1

External links

• Official Site
• "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