Legendary Country Music Hall of Fame member, Don Williams, died Friday after a brief illness at the age of 78. His rep confirmed the news in a release.
The Texas native began his singing career with the Pozo Seco Singers in the mid-Sixties and disbanded by the end of the decade to pursue a solo career. In the Seventies, he fashioned himself into one of country music's most distinctive stylists, recording a long stretch of easygoing hits including "Tulsa Time," "She Never Knew Me," "I Wouldn't Want to Live if You Didn't Love Me," and numerous others for 17 Number One songs in all.
His laid-back, smooth style of singing and towering height earned him the nickname of country's "Gentle Giant," a title that followed him from then on. He regularly scored top 40 hits up through 1991, building a massive following overseas in far-flung and unlikely places such as New Zealand, South Africa and Kenya.
Williams initially retired from touring in 2006, but returned to the road for a celebrated tour in 2010, when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2016, Williams was beset with a series of health issues and was forced to postpone his tour in order to have hip replacement surgery, ultimately canceling the tour and announcing his retirement from live performance last March.
May his soul rest in peace...Amen!
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