Listening to the radio,I heard that Don Williams has passed on. The news broke some hearts and some of those hearts will never mend.
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
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.
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.He was to begin his solo country career in 1971
In his career as a country musician, he won a lot of awards that include
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
