Country Music legend Donald Ray Williams, popularly known as DON WILLIAMS, an American country singer and songwriter has died after a short illness at his home in Alabama at age 78.
This was announced in a press release from the singer’s PR team confirms his death, saying that funeral arrangements are pending.
Williams was born May 27, 1939, in Floydada, Texas, growing up in nearby Portland. Music had always been close to his heart, as he entered his first talent contest — and won — at the age of three.
His prize was a brand new alarm clock. 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.
The late Country Music Legend topped country charts with regularity through the ’70s, in songs characterized by an easy-going, Sunday-afternoon air and delivered with a smooth voice that walked the seam of a porch-front baritone and stage-ready tenor.
The sentiment that drove much of Williams’ country was a rakish positivity, best remembered in his biggest song, 1981’s “I Believe In Youâ€:
“Well, I don’t believe that heaven waits / For only those who congregate / I’d like to think of God as love / He’s down below / He’s up above / He’s watchin’ people everywhere / He knows who does and doesn’t care / And I’m an ordinary man / Sometimes I wonder who I am / But I believe in love.â€
Born in Texas in 1939, Williams began playing the guitar as a teenager, and played in various groups around Portland, just across the bay from Corpus Christi.
PROFILE OF DONALD RAY WILLIAMS (1939-2017)
Donald Ray Williams (May 27, 1939 – September 8, 2017) was an American country singer, songwriter, and 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He began his solo career in 1971, singing popular ballads and amassing 17 number one country hits.
His straightforward yet smooth bass-baritone voice, soft tones, and imposing build earned him the nickname: “Gentle Giant” of country music.[1]
Early years
Donald Ray Williams was born the youngest of three sons on May 27, 1939, in Floydada, Texas. His parents were Loveta Mae (née Lambert; 1914-2007) and James Andrew “Jim” Williams (1898-1982).[2] He grew up in Portland, Texas and graduated from Gregory-Portland High School in 1958. After Williams’ parents divorced, Loveta Williams remarried first to Chester Lang, and then to Robert Bevers.[3]
Williams would suffer a personal tragedy on July 20, 1963, when his eldest brother Kenneth was accidentally electrocuted and killed after coming in contact with a live wire. He was only twenty-nine-years-old.[4]
Prior to forming the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, Williams served in the US army for two years after which worked odd jobs supporting himself.[5]. It was with the group the Pozo-Seco Singers that Williams alongside Susan Taylor and Lofton Cline would record several records for Columbia Records .[6]. Williams would remain with the group until 1969 ultimately resulting in the Pozo-Seco Singers disbanding the following year.
Solo career
After the Pozo-Seco Singers disbanded, Williams would briefly work outside the music industry.[7] Soon, however, Williams resumed his career in music. In December 1971, Williams signed on as a songwriter for Jack Clement with Jack Music Inc. In 1972, Williams inked a contract with JMI Records as a solo country artist. His 1974 song, “We Should Be Together,” reached number five, and he signed with ABC/Dot Records.[citation needed] At the height of the country and western boom in the UK, he had a top forty hit with “You’re My Best Friend” and a top twenty hit in 1976 with “I Recall a Gypsy Woman”, and, in 1978, a #2 album, Images.[8]
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.[citation needed]
“I Believe in You” is a 1980 single written by Roger Cook and Sam Hogin and recorded by Don Williams. “I Believe in You” would be Don Williams’ eleventh #1 on the country chart. The single stayed at #1 for two weeks and spent 12 weeks on the country chart.[9] It was his only Top 40 chart entry, where it peaked at #24. It was also hit in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.[10]
Don had some minor roles in Burt Reynolds movies. In 1975, Don appeared as a member of the Dixie Dancekings band in the movie W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings alongside Reynolds. Don also appeared as himself in the Universal Pictures movie, Smokey and the Bandit II, in which he also played a number of songs.[citation needed]
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. In 2010, Williams came out of retirement and was once again touring.[11]
In March 2012, Williams announced the release of a new record And So It Goes (UK release April 30, 2012; US/Worldwide release June 19, 2012), his first new record since 2004. The record is his first with the independent Americana label Sugar Hill Records.[12] The record includes guest appearances by Alison Krauss, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill. To accompany his latest album release he embarked on a UK Tour. A much loved country artist among British fans he had his final UK tour in 2014.[13]
In March 2016, Williams announced he was retiring from touring and cancelled all his scheduled shows. “It’s time to hang my hat up and enjoy some quiet time at home. I’m so thankful for my fans, my friends and my family for their everlasting love and support,” he said in a statement.[14]
Death]
On September 8, 2017, Williams died in Mobile, Alabama of emphysema.[15][16][17]
Awards and nominations[
Wins
Academy of Country Music
• 1978 ACM Single Record of the Year – Tulsa Time
Country Music Association
• 1978 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
Nominations
Academy of Country Music
• 1976 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1977 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1978 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1979 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1980 ACM Album of the Year – I Believe in You
• 1980 ACM Single Record of the Year – I Believe in You
• 1980 ACM Top Male Vocalist
• 1982 ACM Album of the Year – Listen to the Radio
Country Music Association
• 1976 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1977 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1978 CMA Album of the Year – Country Boy
• 1979 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1980 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1981 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
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